The music of my walk

    I love good music. Instrumentation is important to me, and maybe being a passable pianist plays into that. Saxophone, steel and other guitars, piano, drums, fiddle.....pretty much everything but accordions.

  But even more than the orchestration/instrumentation, I like the words. If you know me very well, you know I am not a fan of acapella singing. The more and varied the instruments, the better. I pay attention to the words when listening to my CDs. A lot of artists are getting away from printing the lyrics inside the CD artwork, but that is something I always liked. I enjoy reading the words as I hear new songs on a CD.  I never listened to much secular music, nor had much desire for it, so the majority of what I listen to actually has lyrics worth heading that can encourage and help me.

  Sometimes my mind won't slow down enough to pay attention to the words, and the music becomes background noise. Today, or I guess I should say yesterday since it is after midnight.... I got my iPod and drove a few miles to visit the covered bridge near me, and then walk on the section of biking/walking trail that crosses near the bridge.

 As I walked, I tried to not only enjoy the scenery around me of the woods the trail goes through, but I focused more on the music and did my best to shut out the worries and complications of life. It mostly worked. There was a song or two that slipped by almost unheard, but I did pay attention to and focused on most of the songs that played from the playlist I had selected.

Through It All

  It started out with an old favorite, Through It All......and I needed the reminder that God has indeed been with me through it all, and will continue to be so

I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong:
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong.

Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.


I Am Loved

  Then I was reminded again that God does indeed love me, and that my scars and failures don't bother Him.

I said if You knew You wouldn't want me
My scars are hidden by the face I wear
He said my child My scars go deeper
and It was love for you that put them there

I am loved, I am loved
I can risk loving you
For the One who knows me best
Loves me most
I am loved you are loved
Won't you please take my hand
We are free to love each other
We are loved

No Limit

  Maybe God knew I needed the reminder that He loves me, for up came another song about His love, this one pointing out that there are no limits to His love.

It really doesn’t matter, how unworthy  you have been 
His forgiveness is forever, and can reach the deepest sin 
If you’ll just come believing in God’s redeeming love 
You’ll find there is no limit to His Love 

His Grace is never ending, His mercy never fails 
Through all the storms you’ll ever face, His Power will prevail 
His peace is overflowing, with hope for all who come 

And find there is no limit to His love 




Mended Wings

  The message of this song says if you have fallen, you can again fly with mended wings.

You have fallen short of the glory
So far you don't know what to do
My life was the very same story
And I have this message for you

You can fly with mended wings
Overcoming everything
If you'll surrender to the Mender
You can fly with mended wings

Nothing You Can Do

  Maybe this playlist playing on shuffle is truly random, or maybe God knew I need to be reminded over and over of His love, but this song came up....... a favorite that says there is nothing we can do to make Him stop loving us.

You say you  tried
You say you failed
Searching for Heaven, while living in hell
Sometimes you feel there's no way out
About given up, cashed it all in
Too far gone to start over again
But He's not gonna' give up on you now

Whoever you are, whatever you've done
There's no place to hide
Nowhere to run
You can go further than you meant to
But there's nothin' you can do
To make Him stop loving you

He Paid A Special Price

 This song has long been a favorite. With the sound and feel of a kid's song, the song points out that I must be special because He paid a special price for me. Awesome!

C1- 
Yes I must be special, For he paid a special price for me 
The one who had it all gave it all, When he died on calvery 
Some may think that I'm not much, But friend they just can't see 
That  I must be special, For he paid a special price for me. 

V1- 

I may be as small as a little grain of sand, 
And like a piece of puzzle, I fit into God's plan. 
And when the picture's finished, It's all plain to see. 
Oh I must be special, For he paid a special price for me. 

C2- 
Yes I must be special, For he paid a special price for me. 
The one who had it all gave it all, When he died on calvery. 
Some may think that I'm not much, But friend they just can't see. 
That  I must be special, For he paid a special price for me. 

V2- 

Since my Saviour found me, And took my sins away. 
And placed me in the family of God, Oh what a happy day. 
Forever I will praise him, For the Blood that set me free. 
Yes I must have been special, For he paid a special price for me. 

C3- 

Yes I must be special, For he paid a special price for me. 
The one who had it all gave it all, When he died on calvery. 
Some may think that I'm not much, But friend they just can't see. 
That  I must be special, For he paid a special price for me. 

And one more:

Cancelled/Worthy

  The Bill Gaither Trio recorded this song way back in 1987, but the words have just started standing out to me and have caused tears and emotion in me when I hear it and truly think about it:

Prison had long been my home,
And the chains that I wore had grown so normal.
I was resigned to my lot
And I almost forgot,
There was freedom somewhere.

Or that someone could care
If I lived or I died,
Or could hear how I cried!


All my debts- Cancelled
Satan’s threats- Cancelled
Sin’s effects- Cancelled
For the ransom was paid.
Now I stand- Worthy
Through the lamb- Worthy
As I am- Worthy
I am free praise His name.


Prison was nothing to Him,
And the bars could not keep Him from loving.
Right through the darkness and pain
He had broken the chains,
That had held me so long

And He traded a song
For the tears and the sighs,
Broken dreams and goodbyes!!


All my debts- Cancelled
Satan’s threats- Cancelled
Sin’s effects- Cancelled
For the ransom was paid.
Now I stand- Worthy
Through the lamb- Worthy
As I am- Worthy
I am free praise His holy name.
Praise His name!
Praise His name!

My bed is smiling at me

   Confession: I love superheroes and superhero movies. Batman, Spiderman, X-Men, Captain America, Superman, the Avengers...... There is something about a good guy with special powers or abilities overcoming and fighting evil and coming out on top.

  I was at Walmart last month and saw a cool pillow I wanted. It was one of those long ones that are intended to rest a leg on or something like that. This was no plain ordinary pillow. This pillow had Captain America, the coolest of superheroes, in my humble opinion. I picked it up and looked at the price, $9.98. That wasn't a bad price I told myself. I also told myself that I am 47 years old and should not be buying a Captain America pillow. Plus, what would I do with it? I listened to the voice of reason that occasionally comes through, and regretfully put the pillow back.

   A week later, I was in the same Walmart and ran across some Captain America figures..... and again the voice of reason pointed out the ridiculousness of a guy my age buying one. And then I found them - Captain America t-shirts for $7.88. I found my size and had the same internal conversation - well, other than where would I put it - that was easy, I'd wear it. But if they weren't meant for adults, then why did they have it in my size? The shirt went into my cart.

  A week later, I was again in Walmart - I shop there a lot, don't judge me. My nieces were with me and we came upon a large bin of pillow emojis about 12 inches in diameter. I thought they were cool, but really what guy my age needs a stuffed pillow that is smiling..... or crying, or some other emotion. I walked away.

    Then I was in Walmart on my way to work one morning - a different Walmart this time.  I ran across the bin of emotional pillows again. Maybe my voice of reason wasn't awake yet since it was so early. Maybe I just didn't care, but I found one of these emoji pillows and put in in my cart. While checking out, that voice of reason evidently woke up and started telling me that I shouldn't buy the pillow. I told it to shut up, and bought the pillow. When my mother saw it, she asked who it was for and seemed a bit surprised when I said "Me!" With a determination that I was keeping it, I ripped off the tag, and arranged it on my bed with the unemotional pillows already there. When I am reading in my lazy-boy, I look over and it looks like my bed is smiling at me. I smile back, and continue reading. (No, I don't really smile back. I am not that weird.) (OK, maybe I smile sometimes, but technically not "back at the pillow")

   Who sets these standards for what adults can and can't do anyway? Sure, there may be some things if adults did that would be found disturbing... like playing in the sandbox (just go to the beach, it is considered normal there)  but sometimes we make life too serious for we adults. A popular meme says "don't grow up.It's a trap!" That is amusing, but it has a good point. Being a kid was a lot easier, setting aside the bullying I got for a lot of that time. There were no bills, not many responsibilities, mom and dad took care of us,  and we didn't have to worry about much.

   And then we became adults. The bills came, the responsibilities multiplied and got bigger, the worries came. Many of us forgot how to have fun, or we feel  that we have no time and too many responsibilities to have fun.

  Matthew 18:2-4 says:

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.



   I find myself wishing often that I had what kids have. They are energetic, most of them don't have a care in the world, they are adventurous, they have fun, they have an innocence that disappears by the time they are adults.  Kids don't feel the need to wear masks or pretend they are someone they aren't. They often have more faith and belief in people and God than we adults manage to have. They haven't learned yet to be cynical. They haven't learned yet how tough life can be and how it can chew you up and spit you out. (There are exceptions to these, some kids have terrible lives and experience things no child should).

  Jesus said unless we become like children, we won't enter the kingdom of Heaven. That is a bit ominous, and I find myself wondering what all that means. Taking into account what the Bible says and the things I have come up with about kids, this could be some of what Jesus meant:

Humility

Trust

Faith

Authenticity

Innocence

Love for life

Joy

   And I am sure there are more. When Jesus sat that child on his lap - well it doesn't say He did that, but I like to think that He did - looked into his eyes and the eyes of the other children; He saw something in those children that He wants for all of us. He wants that badly enough to say we must become like children to go to Heaven.

    Maybe a good start would be to set aside our preconceived notions of what we are too old or mature to do. Do something spontaneous and fun. Be adventurous. Buy that adult coloring book and color.... or a non-adult one. By that teddy bear, eat that candy, dance in the rain, watch that Veggie Tales DVD, sing that kids' song....No, we can't avoid responsibilities - at least not too often - but let's be more like kids in every day life and not be so serious. Have more faith, stop wearing that mask, try to see the good in everyone.

   In closing, two anecdotes:

  Last night my youngest niece, Caitie (age 16), was at our house. My mom told us she had bought 7 Chinese lanterns for $10 for us to send off - a tradition we have started on July 4. Mom wondered what to do with the extra one, as there are 6 kids in our family. Caitie piped up with "give it to Uncle Mark. He is the one most like a kid in the family". (She does have a point.)


  And then a story that I am guessing is not true, but applies here:

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching his wife, who was looking at herself in the mirror.  Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her birthday.

"I'd like to be eight again", she replied, still looking in the mirror .

On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Pops, and then took her to Adventure World theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Roller Coaster, everything there was.

Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.

Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M's.  What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted.

He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well Dear, what was it like being eight again?"

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed.

"I meant my dress size, you idiot!"

Single and satisfied

  "One, and could I please sit outside on the patio?"

   I was at one of my favorite restaurants, O'Charley's. They have an outdoor patio that I have wanted to sit at and eat for a long time, always wanting to have a friend with me to do so; but last summer passed without that happening. This day in May of this year was the day I decided I was going to do it....alone. So I sat outside on the patio and had an enjoyable lunch with me, myself, and I. Unbelievably my salad went far enough to feed all three.....

  There is a common idea that I myself bought into for far too long. Sadly it even exists in the church, and that is true fulfillment is found in marriage, and you aren't a complete person if you're single. It is never said in those words, but that message comes through in many ways. If you're single - especially out of the younger group of singles - you can feel out of place even in the church and feel a pressure to marry so you matter more and fit in. That is just the way it is.

  I was at a Christian bookstore shopping a few years ago, and I overheard two young woman talking about the singles books they were looking at. I am guessing one was married and the other was not. The obviously single one asked her friend, "You know what bugs me about every singles book I have ever read?" I spoke up, "I know the answer: they all assume you are unhappy being single and are wanting and looking to marry." That was what she was going to say, but that is the general thinking today - everyone should marry and are incomplete until they do. (They say men are incomplete until they are married......... and then they are finished.......).

    I spent far too many years of my life wishing I could marry, and thinking I could never be happy unless I achieved that. But yet the Bible indicates it can be better to remain single. Others have referred to singleness as a gift, which brought about a book a few years ago with the amusing title of "If Singleness Is a Gift, What's the Return Policy?" As cute and amusing as that is, that is how I felt for years and how many other singles feel.

    As I have stopped believing this idea that marriage would complete me, make me happy, and do away with loneliness; I have become more comfortable and happy as a single. Oh that doesn't mean I never wish I had someone special to love and love me and do things together - that may never completely go away, but God wired us that way. Overall though, it isn't that big of a deal anymore and isn't something I constantly wish for and feel cheated because I can't have it.

  Back in February, I took a bold move. There is a motel/hotel (what is the difference anyway??) - and this one actually calls itself an inn - that is in Sugarcreek, Ohio that has special packages. At certain times of the year, you can get a room for 2 people that includes free items from between 15 and 20 different places in this Amish section of Ohio. It is almost like a scavenger hunt - in fact, my coworkers called it my Amish Scavenger Hunt. One location gave you a battery powered candle. A fudge/candy shop gave you gourmet popcorn. You had your choice of 3 different restaurants for breakfast and also for supper. A bakery gave you a loaf of bread, a cheese place gave you a free pound of Swiss cheese. An orchard gave a half gallon of apple cider, and so on.

   My parents and one of my sisters and her husband had done this a couple of times, and I found myself wishing I could do it. Then one day, I figured why not? I called to make a reservation and asked if one person could do it. Not only could one person do it, but it was cheaper for one person (take that, married people!) I made the reservation, asked off a day of work so I could make it  a two day trip out of it, and I did it.

    The weather was unseasonably warm for February, and I ran around in short sleeves during my 2 day trip. I parked my car in Berlin, OH and walked the streets, shopping wherever it looked interesting. Using my GPS, I wandered all over Holmes County getting my free items and enjoying the scenery and shopping. My hotel/motel/inn was very nice and had 2 double beds, one of which became a place to put all of my "stuff". There was a small refrigerator for the cheese and other things I had that needed to be kept cool. I took my laptop and a couple of DVDs and stayed up late enjoying my time away.

   Would it have been more enjoyable with someone along? Maybe. I would have enjoyed having my BFF along, but it was enjoyable by myself also. I stopped where I wanted to stop, shopped where - and as long as I wanted - to shop. I ate where I wanted to eat, and enjoyed driving around with no need to carry on a conversation. Would I do again? Yes... I most likely will. Not only did I enjoy it, but it showed me it is possible to be single and do things like that which is usually something couples do.

    I am slowly becoming more comfortable in this single status. I am finding there are indeed disadvantages, but there are also advantages. I am discovering that my identity and happiness does not lie in another person, but in God. I am learning not to be bothered as much by this culture and church world that so emphasizes marriage and couples, and to be happy being me. Maybe it helps that I am starting to like myself better, and have discovered I am not that bad of a person to hang out with.

    Would I marry if these attractions to the same sex attractions went away? I doubt I would at this point. The idea of marriage seems daunting. I can't imagine being with someone all of the time, having to say what you're thinking and never getting a break. I'd rather have kids than a wife..... you could leave them with a babysitter to get some "me" time. I know of no wife-sitting services........Now there's an idea for someone wanting to make money.......

     Maybe it would do all of us good to be single longer, instead of rushing into dating and marriage as soon as we are old enough to do so. Maybe we need to learn to be comfortable and happy in being alone and doing some things by ourselves, instead of feeling the need for constant companionship and love. Could it be possible that if we did that, and focused on being satisfied in Jesus instead of feeling the need for people to make us happy, that we wouldn't be so dissatisfied and prone to divorce when and if we do marry? Is it possible that even in marriage, that people depend too much on their spouse for what they should be seeking from God?

  And could it be that we who feel the need to stay single, or are unable to marry can find true satisfaction in Jesus to the point that we don't feel the need to marry? I am getting there, and am already there some days. And may God use me as a single in ways that He couldn't if I were married.

Sarah Palin, I am sorry

   I never cared much for or about John McCain. I felt he was a poor candidate and the Republican Party could do much better, but he won the nomination and seemed to hold the same views as I do on the important things....so I very unenthusiastically supported him.

   And then he pulled a wild card. He picked as his running mate an outspoken female governor from Alaska. I liked her immediately, and it seemed to put new life into his campaign. The liberals, liberal media, and even some Republicans relentlessly attacked her on every side, even going after her children - something they would never do to a Democrat. I defended her a lot - to people around me, on Facebook, and on news sites.

  So now, I feel I owe Sarah Palin an apology. Sarah, I am deeply sorry for ever supporting and defending you. Maybe everything that was said about you was correct, and you are the failure and moronic woman they have so long painted you as.

  I was disappointed when instead of supporting a true conservative that you helped get elected - Ted Cruz - you threw your support behind the worst candidate to ever run on the GOP ticket. I have been irritated as you have chastised we with principles that feel we cannot vote for this despicable candidate, and infuriated at the things you have said about us.

   But yesterday, you really went too far. You called out the #NeverTrump people, which I am proudly and unashamed to be one of, and laid into us. You called us Republicans Against Trump - or RAT - thinking you were clever for your little acronym. Lady, that was uncalled for. You are the one being a rat. You are the one deserting conservative principles and values to throw your support behind a candidate a true conservative cannot and will not vote for. You are the one deserting the Republican Party.

  I guess it is all about politics with you after all, You don't truly care about what is good and important, but for some insane reason have decided to go with Trump. What did he offer you to get your vote - a position in his admiinsitration that he will never have? A chance to be his next wife if you divorce Todd? What possessed you to do this, or were you this person all along and hid it to get conservatives to like you?

 Well this RAT is done with you. Never again will I defend you and your family who seems bent on immorality - how many grandchildren have you had out of wedlock now anyway? Never again will I support you for any reason. I sincerely apologize for ever thinking you were conservative, decent, and VP worthy. You are none of those things. As someone said: Sarah, go home. You're drunk.

   I still think the liberals and media should have left your children alone, but it looks like you yourself got everything you deserved from them. I am sorry I supported and defended you. It won't happen again,

  Sincerelly, the RAT Mark Buzard

Friends, for such a time as this

   I have been thinking about friends lately. Friends in my life who encourage and inspire me, friends that have parted ways for reasons even I don't really get, friends I have never met or may never meet....

   A conversation with one of those friends I have never met has been on my mind, and as I have thought about him and other friends throughout my life, a verse from one of my favorite Bible stories came to mind. In the book of Esther, Mordecai has come to Esther with the plot by Haman to kill off the Jews and Mordecai urges her to go to the king. Out of fear for her life, she is reluctant. In Esther 4:14, he replies:

" For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

  For such a time as this. What if God brings people into our lives "for such a time as this"? Some  may be part of our lives for a short time, and fill a void or are a help and encouragement to us before moving on, others may be lifelong friends who never move on or move away,  and are there for us through thick and thin. And what if we are put in someone's life "for such a time as this?" That is kind of a heavy thought for me.... that I, Mark Buzard, could possibly be in someone's life to help them in some way. But it has happened. Yeah, I am just as shocked as you are.....

   The year was 2004. I was in a Christian Yahoo chat room and ran onto “John.” Twelve years is too long to remember the particulars, and it seems he has a better memory than I do and can remember more. We started chatting, and somehow the issue of same-sex attractions came up. I voiced that it was something I struggled with, and it turned out that  John was dealing with them himself, and not dealing very well. Being able to talk to another Christian guy who knew exactly what it was like seemed heaven-sent to him.

  John and I kept in contact for a while, chatting and discussing our mutual problem, and then I lost track of him...until Facebook. One day in 2010 I got a friend request from John, and we started building a closer friendship -  as close as two friends can be that live several states apart. We chat, text, talk on the phone, and I would say he is probably the best friend I have who I have never met. More than once, he has brought up how we met in a Christian chat room and how I somehow (my word) found the right words to say to this Christian brother who was hurting so badly and didn't know where to turn. I can't remember what I told him, but God had to have helped me to say the things I needed to say to help him.

   And the friendship is beneficial to me. He is a very positive person and inspires and encourages me on a daily basis. He has even revamped my resume' a couple of times for me. We were just talking recently, and a picture I had posted had brought that all back to him how we ended up chatting and he found hope through this very messed up guy. When we first chatted, I had a picture of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse as my Yahoo profile picture for chatting. When I recently posted my vacation pictures from being there, he saw pictures of that same lighthouse and it all came back to him.

  God can use anyone and anything, and for John it was a very messed up Christian guy in a Christian chat room that just happened to be dealing with the same issue as he was. It is very possible – very likely – that God had me there for such a time as this to help and encourage a guy I had never met.

   Then there is my best friend, Steven. We first met 10 years ago and quickly became best friends. I had never had a best friend before, and it seemed God sent him along when I needed one the most. I think and hope the friendship has been as beneficial to him. Unfortunately, he lives 400 + miles away, so we don't get to see each other very often. (Why does it seem the friends who want to hang out the most with me live far away?!) I know for me, God sent Steven into my life for one of those “for such a time as these” times.... and possibly the same is true of me for him.

  We talk often, text a lot, argue, make fun of each other's taste in music and books - at least I make fun of his..... he has become someone I can tell anything to without fear of him turning tail and running. I do believe it was a friendship that didn't just happen, but was orchestrated by God.

   And there have been others through the years. Some friends who come and go and helped me through rough patches. Other friends who were close and now are not so close, but were there for me in ways that I'll never forget.

   As I sit and think about the people in my life: my fellow church members, my family, the people who I work with and have worked with.....only God knows how much He orchestrates the crossing of paths we have with different people. And that makes me wonder how many people I cross paths with who God may use me to help or encourage in some way. As my “chance” online meeting with John shows, God can use even me to help and encourage someone... someone He may have brought into my life for the sole purpose of me doing that.

  For me, that is a sobering thought. Yeah, I know I am the one who said it, but it is still a sobering thought. May God help me to be the kind of man and Christian that I should be so that I can be used by Him however and wherever He wants to use me.

   The people in my life: those I go to church with, my family, my friends – on and off of Facebook, the men and women I have met and befriended through the Hope for Wholeness ministry, the patients and visitors I see at the hospital where I work, the sales clerks and wait staff, and all others I cross paths with.......how many of them has God put in my path or life to either help and encourage me, or be helped and encouraged by me?

   Only Heaven may reveal who was put in our lives or whose lives we were put in for such a time a this.

Lions and gorillas, and pot, oh my!

Lions

   Turn back the calendar a year or so ago....an American dentist shot and killed a lion in Zimbabwe, and all hell broke loose. Americans had never hear of this lion named Cecil until it was shot and killed, and the reactions of many were  insane. There were people who wanted him arrested. He had to hide out in fear of his life, and there were people who seemingly would have been happy to have seen him put to death for the incident..... because he killed an animal. (I seem to remember people actually calling for his death).

Gorillas

  More recently, a small boy got in with a gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo. Fears for the child's life resulted in the gorilla being killed. Again, the reactions were crazy, insane, and thoughtless. Everyone instantly became expert gorilla and child raising experts.

People thought the gorilla should have been shot with a dart to knock him out

People condemned the parents for not watching the boy closely enough.

Some people thought it would have been better for the kid to die instead of the gorilla - really, that is sadly no joke.

  Instead of being thankful a small child survived, people were more upset that an animal was killed to protect a human life.

Dogs

  Ancient Egyptians worshiped cats, and it seems this country is close to animal worship, and no animal comes closer to being worshiped than dogs.....followed closely by cats. There have been several incidents where someone was attacked or mauled by a dog and I have read the comments on those stories. The amount of people worried that the animal will be put down is mind boggling....or if it is put down, people are upset. The animal is never at fault, and dog lovers are more worried about the welfare of the dog than the person it attacked.

  Just a couple of weeks ago, a woman walked onto some property to deliver some legal documents. She was doing her job. The people were not home, and they had dogs loose..... dogs that attacked and killed this woman. And who did the animal lovers blame? The woman.

It was her fault for trespassing..... uh, she was doing her job you insensitive clods

She deserved it - no she didn't.

The dogs were just protecting the property and should not be put down - uh, if a dog is vicious enough to kill someone, they should not be loose.

Alligators

  Even more recently, a little 2 year old boy got grabbed by an alligator in Florida and was killed. Again, the parenting experts came out in condemnation of the parents.......as if the parents don't have it hard enough losing a child, now they have insensitive know-it-alls condemning them for not preventing it. I haven't seen any posts defending the alligator, but I would be very surprised if there aren't any out there.

Pot

  I am 100% un-apologetically opposed to the legalization of marijuana. I have read the reasons why it is a bad idea, and there is irrefutable proof that it is a very bad idea.... of course the pro-pot people refuse to admit it, but that is no surprise....they will do or say anything to get it legalized and more accessible.

  There are warnings out about candy with pot in them coming across the border from Colorado. People are being cautioned to be careful about the candy their kids have.... a sensible warning. a few months ago, some kids at a school in Pennsylvania were somehow able to order candy with pot in over the internet and had it delivered. Yeah, that is one of the dangers, the chances are greater of kids getting a hold of it if it is legalized, but pro-pot people don't seem to care.

  As I read through the comments on that news story, I was disgusted at some of the comments. A lot of people were mocking the idea of being worried about it. One young man said it wasn't a big deal if kids did get their hands on some, because marijuana isn't addictive.....these people are so pro-pot that they don't care or aren't worried about kids getting their hands on it. Unbelievable.

Oh my!

    I guess it should not be a surprise in a country where killing an innocent baby is not just defended, but celebrated.... and is one of the main platforms of the Democratic party.......but it seems we are losing our respect for human life. Animals matter more and too many people are more concerned with the death of an animal than with the death of a human.

How many Americans would have been upset if Cecil the lion had killed the dentist? Would the same people outraged about the death of a lion in another country been sad or outraged about the death of a dentist if the lion had killed him?

Would there have been as much outrage if the little boy had died instead of the gorilla? Would the same people posting about the gorilla being killed have posted anything if the boy had been hurt or killed?

If the woman had survived the dog attack and the dogs been put down, would the dog lovers have cared?

If a child gets hold of pot candy, will the pro-pot people even care? Would it make a dent in their push to legalize it?

The slippery slope

   A friend of mine posted a news story about the growing acceptance of pedophilia. It is a small number accepting it, but it is growing and some psychologists are starting to try to make it sound more acceptable. I commented about the slippery slope we are on, and that it will most likely happen here in America. A relative of the woman who posted it, mocked the idea and said there is a big difference in immorality in adults and between an adult and a child, and knocked the slippery slope idea.

  But is it really that far of a stretch? Take into account there are a lot of people out there who aren't just OK with babies being ripped a part in the womb, but would rather a small child die than an animal...or any human die instead of an animal.

Michael Jackson


  When Michael Jackson was alive, there were a lot of people who were positive the man was molesting kids.... and nothing ever happened. Parents still let their kids stay with him, it was known he slept with little boys, and he paid off a family to drop the accusations of his molesting their boy. People loved him so much, they wanted to ignore this stuff about him. There were people threatening to kill themselves if he had convicted of the child molestation charges...... they idolized this bizarre singer so much, they didn't care that he might have been a child molester.

  It just came out in the news that police found all kinds of child pornography and other bizarre pornography at his Neverland Ranch. It would seem everything thought about him was true..... but the die-hard Michael Jackson fans won't care.

 And too many people don't care about adults - especially teachers - having sex with their students, especially if it is a female teacher and male student.... it is a joke.

Gay parenting

   Even with the testimonies of people raised by gay parents, adoption by gay parents is being forced on us...along with all other things gay. A child doesn't matter as much as the "right" of 2 gay people to have a child in spite of God's plan of a man and woman having one together. The gay agenda is more important than the welfare of children.

Where are we going?

  All of this combined should be cause for concern. Abortion was most likely the first step, but America has lost the respect and love for human life. Animals are valued more by many people, and when a child is endangered people would rather point fingers than be sad a child died or happy they didn't. Is it really that hard to imagine in this country that is getting increasingly more and more godless and immoral, that the day will come when sex with children is defended and eventually legalized? It has happened before in other countries and civilizations. In ancient Rome, it was considered normal and accepted for adult men to have catamites - young boys used sexually by adults....

  Is it really that impossible of an idea that it will be legalized here in a country were killing babies is defended and celebrated? A country where even many Christians have no problem voting for politicians who celebrate and defend that "right"? Is it so hard to imagine it happening here when people care more about the treatment and value of animals than of humans?

  Humans are always more important than animals. We have a living soul that will spend eternity in heaven or hell. Regardless of the popular idea of animal lovers, animals do not go to Heaven, They die.... end of story, People matter. Human lives are what is important..... not a lion in another country, not a gorilla in a zoo, and not your pet who you sickeningly refer to yourself as "mommy" to.

 If we don't start respecting the sanctity of ALL human life... if we keep voting for politicians who are not pro-life no matter if they have a "D" or "R" by their name. we Christians will be as guilty of not respecting human life. all human lives matter to God, and they should to us also.

 So go ahead and post all of your pro-animal posts, but try to at least mention the horrors of abortion, Christians being tortured and killed by radical Muslims, people in sex trafficking, and more.....those all matter more than puppies, gorillas, lions, or any other animal.

Homosexuality..... the special sin

   There is an ever increasing push to take what the Bible says about homosexuality and either twist it, or interpret it to mean something entirely different. More and more Christians are following and teaching the heresy that the Bible doesn't really condemn homosexuality between 2 consenting adults, and that you can be gay - as in having sex with the same gender - and still be a Christian.

 I have tried to engage many of these people in intelligent debate and conversation, but the majority of them just dodge questions and attack you for daring to believe the Bible actually means what it says.

  But what makes this sin so special? I see no Christians pushing and defending any other sin named in the Bible, or even sins not specifically named in the Bible:

Adultery

Incest

Rape

Murder

Stealing

Bestiality

Pedophilia

Lying

  We who dare stand up to these people get slapped down and asked why we are singling out this one sin. Why aren't we talking about other sins or poverty....... uh, maybe because no one is defending these other sins and trying to force acceptance of it on everyone. No one is publishing posts insisting any other sin is OK and that we should not say it is wrong. Even a blond should understand that.....

 There is a Christian Blogger group I am in. Yesterday one pro-gay man who claims to be a pastor and also doesn't believe in hell, posted 6 pro-gay posts. And people were more upset with we who dared to disagree with him than with him for posting things contrary to the Bible. Ironic.

 So what does make this sin special? Most proponents of pro-gay theology seem to come from a couple of ideals and arguments:

1) We must love gay people........ and that evidently means never disagreeing with them. (wow, I want that exemption!)

 The thing is, if the Bible is true - and I believe it is - any practicing gay person will spend an eternity in hell if they never repent and change. There is also the added "bonus" of the gay lifestyle being more dangerous health-wise.

 So is it really love to encourage people to just go with it and live that life? I can't see that it is. It is enabling. Love is treating them with compassion and telling them the truth.

 And we wouldn't do it with other issues. Imagine the drug addict being told it is OK to just do it since it is too hard to overcome, or the child molester, or the alcoholic.  

2) It isn't fair for gay people to go through life without having sex and/or someone to love. God wouldn't ask that. (Well Jesus did it til He was crucified at age 33)

  Life isn't fair. Is it fair to be single -  most likely for life - and be attracted to the wrong sex? No.... but neither is it fair to be born addicted to drugs or alcohol. Neither is it fair to be born blind, dead, crippled, missing limbs..... this being a Christian isn't about fair. It isn't fair that Jesus had to hang on a cross and suffer and die for our sins when He was innocent.

 So fair? That is life.

  We all have struggles and sins that tempt us. If it isn't same-sex attraction, it would be lust and the temptation to hook up with the opposite sex outside of marriage  - or in addition to marriage. Just because a struggle is difficult, does not make it OK. Many have walked away from homosexuality to serve God, only to go back to it because God didn't make them "straight".......since when did becoming straight be the goal in life? Our goal in life is to live for Jesus a life that pleases Him, to repent of our sin and walk away from it...... no matter how difficult that is or how attractive that sin is. The opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality - it is holiness.

   You cannot be a Christian and live in unrepentant sin, whether it be homosexuality, lying, jealousy, adultery, sex outside of marriage..... or any of the others. And God doesn't make exemptions just because it isn't easy to walk away or stay away from what is sin but feels natural.

 And if we truly love God and are taking up our cross and denying ourselves, we are not going to try to twist the inconvenient verses in the Bible. We are not going to try to make it say what we want it to say so we can live the way we want to live and be able to pass off what the Bible says.

  Homosexuality is a tough issue and is not easy to deal with on a personal level...... but the Bible still does say it is a sin and doing it will put you in hell for eternity. That isn't judging - as the pro-gay crowd likes to throw out - that is simply quoting what the Bible says. God's grace is enough to help conquer any sin or struggle. Homosexuality is not any harder for God to forgive and deliver from than any other sin.....it is not a special sin to Him, and it should not be to us.