Ingredients
1 pound sirloin steak, cubed salt to taste ground black pepper to taste 1 (14 ounce) can beef broth 3 large carrots, diced 3 potatoes, cubed 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1/3 cup water 2 (9 inch) refrigerator pie crusts
Directions
In a saucepan over medium heat, brown the pieces of meat on all sides. Pour in some water to almost cover. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer until meat is tender and falls apart easily; about 2 to 3 hours. Transfer meat to a large mixing bowl. Shred the meat slightly and add salt and pepper to taste.
In another 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, pour in beef broth and add carrots and potatoes. Cook until almost tender; about 15 to 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
When the carrots and potatoes are done, transfer to the large mixing bowl with the beef; leaving the liquid in the pan. Combine the peas with the carrots, potatoes and beef.
Dissolve the cornstarch with the 1/3 cup of water. Pour into the saucepan of beef broth, stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat; cook for 5 minutes.
Line a 9 inch pie plate with one of the pie crust following the package directions. Place the beef mixture into the pie crust. Pour the gravy over the top of the mixture, then cover with the other pie crust. Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is golden brown; about 25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A House Blessing for our Home on Thanksgiving
May all those that pass through these portals,
Feel safe and secure, and may they feel love and respect,
No matter what their station or place in life is.
A home that was established on respect and love,
But the greatest of these is Love.
A special prayer of thanksgiving for my entire family, including, but not limited to:
Mine and Jody’s biological families, our special family and my family at St. Andrews Presbyterian.
My past is behind me, my future it bright and beautiful. Every day is a new awakening. I thank God for each and every day, and I thank God for that special day when Jody and I first met.
Thank You God, for everything!
Your humble servant,
Jere
Feel safe and secure, and may they feel love and respect,
No matter what their station or place in life is.
A home that was established on respect and love,
But the greatest of these is Love.
A special prayer of thanksgiving for my entire family, including, but not limited to:
Mine and Jody’s biological families, our special family and my family at St. Andrews Presbyterian.
My past is behind me, my future it bright and beautiful. Every day is a new awakening. I thank God for each and every day, and I thank God for that special day when Jody and I first met.
Thank You God, for everything!
Your humble servant,
Jere
Crab Salad and Tartar Sauce
CRAB AND SHRIMP SALAD
Serves 4 to 6
3/4 pound fresh crabmeat, preferably from stone crabs from the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico
3/4 pound domestic wild-caught pink shrimp, cooked
1/2 cup Tartar Sauce (recipe follows)
1/3 cup minced fresh organic chives, plus 1 tablespoon extra for garnish
1/3 cup finely diced red onion
6 cups mixed organic baby greens
3 ripe tomatoes, stemmed and thinly sliced
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Sugar
1 ripe but firm avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and cut lengthwise into thin slices
1 tablespoon minced parsley
With your fingertips, pick through the crabmeat to remove any pieces of shell or cartilage. Transfer the crabmeat to a mixing bowl. Pick through the shrimp to remove any fragments of shell, and then add the shrimp to the crabmeat.
Add the Tartar Sauce, chives, and red onion to the bowl. Gently fold the ingredients together until the seafood, chives, and onion are well mixed and evenly coated with the dressing. If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate.
On 4 chilled main-course salad plates or 6 chilled appetizer salad plates, attractively arrange beds of the baby greens. Scoop the seafood salad in mounds on the center of each bed of greens.
Arrange the tomato slices attractively around the seafood salad and season them with just a pinch of sugar. Arrange the avocado slices attractively among the tomato slices; then, season both the avocado and tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste and drizzle them lightly with the olive oil. Garnish each plate with the remaining chives and the parsley and serve immediately.
TARTAR SAUCE
Makes about 1-1/2 cups
1-1/2 cups store-bought mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped cornichons (tiny French-style dill pickles)
1 tablespoon small rinsed and drained capers
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Put the mayonnaise in a mixing bowl. With a spoon or a wire whisk, stir in the cornichons, capers, tarragon, chives, and sugar until thoroughly blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 3 days.
This is the Wolfgang Puck recipe, for me, I play with it and in a simplistic way, combine Shrimp, Shredded Coleslaw Mix, a very light dressing of mayonnaise and salt and pepper. From there I can do anything with it, serve it crackers, on bagel bites or even with fresh grated cheese on it. My version came from the chef at a country club, Jerry Attaway, in Jackson, Mississippi and has fared me very well over the years.
Serves 4 to 6
3/4 pound fresh crabmeat, preferably from stone crabs from the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico
3/4 pound domestic wild-caught pink shrimp, cooked
1/2 cup Tartar Sauce (recipe follows)
1/3 cup minced fresh organic chives, plus 1 tablespoon extra for garnish
1/3 cup finely diced red onion
6 cups mixed organic baby greens
3 ripe tomatoes, stemmed and thinly sliced
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Sugar
1 ripe but firm avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and cut lengthwise into thin slices
1 tablespoon minced parsley
With your fingertips, pick through the crabmeat to remove any pieces of shell or cartilage. Transfer the crabmeat to a mixing bowl. Pick through the shrimp to remove any fragments of shell, and then add the shrimp to the crabmeat.
Add the Tartar Sauce, chives, and red onion to the bowl. Gently fold the ingredients together until the seafood, chives, and onion are well mixed and evenly coated with the dressing. If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate.
On 4 chilled main-course salad plates or 6 chilled appetizer salad plates, attractively arrange beds of the baby greens. Scoop the seafood salad in mounds on the center of each bed of greens.
Arrange the tomato slices attractively around the seafood salad and season them with just a pinch of sugar. Arrange the avocado slices attractively among the tomato slices; then, season both the avocado and tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste and drizzle them lightly with the olive oil. Garnish each plate with the remaining chives and the parsley and serve immediately.
TARTAR SAUCE
Makes about 1-1/2 cups
1-1/2 cups store-bought mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped cornichons (tiny French-style dill pickles)
1 tablespoon small rinsed and drained capers
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Put the mayonnaise in a mixing bowl. With a spoon or a wire whisk, stir in the cornichons, capers, tarragon, chives, and sugar until thoroughly blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 3 days.
This is the Wolfgang Puck recipe, for me, I play with it and in a simplistic way, combine Shrimp, Shredded Coleslaw Mix, a very light dressing of mayonnaise and salt and pepper. From there I can do anything with it, serve it crackers, on bagel bites or even with fresh grated cheese on it. My version came from the chef at a country club, Jerry Attaway, in Jackson, Mississippi and has fared me very well over the years.
Thanksgiving Inspirations and Recipes from Houston, Texas
What follows is a compilation of recipes from the Ukitena Clan in Houston, Texas. Also, please feel free to share with everyone, thoughts, feelings and inspirations!
Wonderful Peach Cobbler
The whole family likes this one!Ingredients
• 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
For the Dumplings....
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• MIX TOGETHER:
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
And now the whole cobbler...
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
4. Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.
Wonderful Peach Cobbler
The whole family likes this one!Ingredients
• 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
For the Dumplings....
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• MIX TOGETHER:
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
And now the whole cobbler...
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
4. Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Just How much does it cost to Praise God and Worship in today’s so called modernistic society?
24. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
- Matthew 6:24
I have written about the value of a human life in some previous postings and now I feel the strong need to address this particular issue.
It’s appalling to me that we place an inordinate amount of responsibility on a simple piece of paper and give it power over every aspect of our lives, even giving for the proliferation of some supposed secret word of love and hope. How can we, even as human beings, turn a blind eye to what is going on around us. In Houston, Texas, the poverty rate of the school children is 80 percent, at least that is what HISD is telling us, and all the facts and figures associated with that very large and seemingly hopeless school system. The teachers teach a test in order to propagate some funding metric from the state, instead of teaching reasoning and logic skills. Kids slip through the cracks, the dropout rate is 40 to 50 percent, and there is no incentive to learn….anything at all, just pass a test, and that will give you everything you need in life.
Well, coming from an educators standpoint, it’s not necessarily the teachers complete responsibility to guide each and every student to the trough of knowledge and wisdom, that responsibility lays in the laps of the parents and families of the children also, perhaps more than the teachers themselves. There is a very old adage, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink!” Well, for me, I would drink, but I’m not a horse, I don’t think I am at least, but then, I had the want to know feeling about who and what I am and how I can impact myself and the world around me. There is a wonderful experience in my life, studying with a great mentor, perhaps an icon of artistry and intellect, Mr. Robert Marcellus. In many peoples eyes and in mine, was one of the greatest and most prolific of the performing artists of the day. As I ended a rather exhausting lesson experience with him (as a point of reference, the second one I had with him), he, in his unobtrusive way made the statement “Jere, There is nothing I can teach you, you already know all there is to know. If you ever want to learn from me, let me know, I’ll be glad to share with you my knowledge and teach you my ways of doing things.”
I believe I will leave this topic here for now for further exploration, perhaps when someone wants to ask about the outcome, or perhaps share from their lofty perches that they place themselves and others on.
- Matthew 6:24
I have written about the value of a human life in some previous postings and now I feel the strong need to address this particular issue.
It’s appalling to me that we place an inordinate amount of responsibility on a simple piece of paper and give it power over every aspect of our lives, even giving for the proliferation of some supposed secret word of love and hope. How can we, even as human beings, turn a blind eye to what is going on around us. In Houston, Texas, the poverty rate of the school children is 80 percent, at least that is what HISD is telling us, and all the facts and figures associated with that very large and seemingly hopeless school system. The teachers teach a test in order to propagate some funding metric from the state, instead of teaching reasoning and logic skills. Kids slip through the cracks, the dropout rate is 40 to 50 percent, and there is no incentive to learn….anything at all, just pass a test, and that will give you everything you need in life.
Well, coming from an educators standpoint, it’s not necessarily the teachers complete responsibility to guide each and every student to the trough of knowledge and wisdom, that responsibility lays in the laps of the parents and families of the children also, perhaps more than the teachers themselves. There is a very old adage, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink!” Well, for me, I would drink, but I’m not a horse, I don’t think I am at least, but then, I had the want to know feeling about who and what I am and how I can impact myself and the world around me. There is a wonderful experience in my life, studying with a great mentor, perhaps an icon of artistry and intellect, Mr. Robert Marcellus. In many peoples eyes and in mine, was one of the greatest and most prolific of the performing artists of the day. As I ended a rather exhausting lesson experience with him (as a point of reference, the second one I had with him), he, in his unobtrusive way made the statement “Jere, There is nothing I can teach you, you already know all there is to know. If you ever want to learn from me, let me know, I’ll be glad to share with you my knowledge and teach you my ways of doing things.”
I believe I will leave this topic here for now for further exploration, perhaps when someone wants to ask about the outcome, or perhaps share from their lofty perches that they place themselves and others on.
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Valueless Life?
I keep reading, with utter dismay, of all the conflicts in the world that seem to drive up the price of essential commodities that promote human life.
In Russia and the Ukraine, people are freezing to death, and there is a fight. In the Middle East, there are wars on top of wars that seem to regulate the price of Oil.
Around the world, people are freezing, unable to afford the very thing that could prevent that, meanwhile the price of Oil keeps going up so the Oil Barons can get richer. To what end do these riches yield? "What value does a man have, if he gains all the possessions in the world and loses his soul? Praise the Dollar as God Himself!"
I question the bailouts in the US, for bailing out the ones that spend money foolishly and care nothing about the common man, I question the Oil Barons, who speculate on the price of a necessary commodity in this day and time, as if they were shooting craps at the casino. Guess what folks, there is an eventual crap out, where the house takes all the table stakes and your left with just a little bit in reserve, perhaps to speculate some more a push for more wealth, no matter what the personal cost is.
In Houston, Texas, as a disabled vet on limited income, the energy companies here don't hesitate in the heat of summer or the dead of winter to cut the necessities of life for not paying the entire extravagant bills they send. There is no heart and soul in these actions, only dollar signs, and human life is not even worth a penny to them if it's not in their pockets.
What's happened to the world? I really don't know, and I question all humanity on this issue. What happened to the days when people actually cared about other people, and would belly up and provide for each other, no matter what the cost. Have we become that selfish and self centered as a society? How about just sitting with someone, perhaps that person on the street, laughing with them, giving them your smile…..it doesn't cost you a penny, but it does take about 5 seconds of your precious time. Sounds pretty cheap to me, except….time is the most precious commodity we have to give each other. To bad, in this hectic world, we take that for granted and spend the time we have chasing the almighty dollar that sharing God's Love with each other.
Who knows, in an ideal society, there would be no hunger, no greediness, no lack of self worth, no suffering, no loneliness……perhaps we would be one people, together, with full lives and no worries about today.
"But of these, three remain faith, hope and love…but…the greatest of these is Love!"
Thank You God, for the precious gift of time (love) You give to me….I pray I give enough time and love back to You through human compassion and kindness……
Just Because
There is a man that sits at the bar,
Most look at him and see old fat and ugly
Within that man, is wisdom and great knowledge
He's stood on the lines
He's fought the battles
And within him resides
A heart of Gold!
He's asked for something special
A pan of cornbread
And a few homemade muffins
From a very special kitchen
I hear that request
From a friendly bartender
It's a special request of me.
A bright ray of light
Has just filled my life.
I'll make the cornbread and muffins
And a little something extra special
Just because
I'll make it very special, from my special kitchen
Just because
God put this special moment, in my life
Just when I need it also,
Just because
Questioning
Genesis 1:26
Then God said; “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and elt them rule over the fist of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blesses them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fist of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the brids of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
In the creation of Adam, God made man in His own image, and from Adam, God created woman. When woman (Eve) caused man to sin against God, God punished them both by casting them from the “Garden of Eden” and from his presence, forcing man to toil and work to provide for their needs. Woman was further punished with the pain of childbirth, as a constant reminder of the woman’s part in the downfall of Man.
With this wonderous miracle of birth, Man and Woman become one and produce offspring, a family.
Genesis 4
In this chapter, the bible speaks of Adam and Eve, having been cast from the Garden of Eden, beginning the work of creating a family. To them were born two sons, Cain and Able. In verse 8, it tells of Cain attacking and killing Able, his brother. In verses 10 through 15, the bible speaks of Gods punishment on Cain for the murder of Able, setting Cain apart from God, never to be in Gods presence again, and of Cain going to the land of Nod, where Cain found a wife, and began to build his own family. To them was born Enoch.
In verse 25, the bible speaks of Adam laying with his wife, Eve, and another son being born, Seth.
I have often wondered, there is not anything in the Bible of God creating any other human beings than Adam and Eve. Where did the land of Nod come from, and where did the people in the land of Nod come from. Taking the bible at a literal reading, the land of Nod cannot exist, and further reading in Leviticus and Deuteronomy forbid sexual relations with brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc… Yet, in Genesis, it would seem that it is the accepted norm to procreate with brothers and sisters, as well as possible with Mothers and Fathers. This is just from taking the Bible at a literal reading, and is further backed up in Chapter 5.
Genesis 5
When Adam was 130 years old, Seth was born. Adam lived to be 930 years old, and produced other sons and daughters. Seth, at 105 years, produced a son, and afterwards other sons and daughters.
Exodus 21
These chapters speak of laws governing the Israelites.
Numbers 5
The following chapters speak of other laws and rules governing the Israelites in the desert.
Deuteronomy 7 onward
Further rules and laws governing the Israelites.
Noteable is chapter 14 for the discussion on Leviticus.
Leviticus 11
Verse 1: The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. The coney, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have asplit hoof, it is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales – whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water – you are to detest. And since you are to detest them, you must not eattheir meat and you must detest their carcasses. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.
These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable” the eagle, the vulture, the clack vulture, the red kite, any kind of black kite, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the white owl, the osprey, the stork any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. But all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest.
You will make yourselves unclean by these: whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Whoever picks up on of their carcasses must wash his clothes and he will be unclean till evening.
Where is the simplicity of Christmas?
What happened to the happy times we all remember as children, when parents and kids, as well as families gathered, and good times were had by all. Did those times really exist, or did we just hope they did? I have memories of mostly fights and hard times during the holidays, especially having the time to spend with both my Mother and Father, and the guilt put upon me if I even hinted of spending time with one or the other. Happy times?
Well, it was for the friends and church, and sledding, and well, all those good times. Hence, in later years, I have finally picked my own family, hand chosen, and we all have memories of hard times during the holiday’s. How do we correct those?
.
Christmas on December 25th, a picked holiday for the celebration of Christ’s birth, set in winter, close to the Feast of Mithra in ancient Rome. After the American Revolution, there was no Christmas for 67 years, as it was considered a holiday of the Crown, and had no place in American Life at the time. Congress worked on that day for many years. However, Christmas was reinvented in America as a more secular holiday.
Why is it that some people do not have the drive, or the ambition to do things with their lives, and then get angry when they figure out that they could have done things, but just didn’t. This is completely self destructive and also can kill ambition in others as they set out to put them down, and keep them down with abusive behavior, much like a bully from childhood days. Perhaps they should grow up and face the realities in their lives and accept that they are the cause of their own problems, and not the world around them. Life would be so nice if that were the case, where people accepted responsibility for their own actions, instead of blaming others for their shortcomings.
It’s very interesting to me, the way that people are judgemental and have to put labels on people or behaviors. There is a lack of understanding or accepting that is all consuming. From the environs of the uneducated life, there is not the ability to comprehend how a man can be a good cook, or have taste and like the finer things in life. Instead, there are labels that pertain to what is a woman’s place and what is a man’s place in the world. Just when you think you have all this figured out, it changes with the new people that come into your life, and it’s sometimes very uncomfortable, and the insanity of the world comes back full circle to you.
What’s all this about a college education and a college degree. It is my experience, as a man, with advanced degrees, that number one, it is harder to get a job that it is if I just put on the application that I graduated High School. And, if I do get the job, I end up being the lowest paid on the ladder of “success”, than the person that has a junior high education, and no GED, doing the same job. However, it seems that I end up doing their job and mine, as they continue to get the paycheck. Good luck getting the foot in the door, as that is the hardest to do with an education.
Then God said; “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and elt them rule over the fist of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blesses them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fist of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the brids of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
In the creation of Adam, God made man in His own image, and from Adam, God created woman. When woman (Eve) caused man to sin against God, God punished them both by casting them from the “Garden of Eden” and from his presence, forcing man to toil and work to provide for their needs. Woman was further punished with the pain of childbirth, as a constant reminder of the woman’s part in the downfall of Man.
With this wonderous miracle of birth, Man and Woman become one and produce offspring, a family.
Genesis 4
In this chapter, the bible speaks of Adam and Eve, having been cast from the Garden of Eden, beginning the work of creating a family. To them were born two sons, Cain and Able. In verse 8, it tells of Cain attacking and killing Able, his brother. In verses 10 through 15, the bible speaks of Gods punishment on Cain for the murder of Able, setting Cain apart from God, never to be in Gods presence again, and of Cain going to the land of Nod, where Cain found a wife, and began to build his own family. To them was born Enoch.
In verse 25, the bible speaks of Adam laying with his wife, Eve, and another son being born, Seth.
I have often wondered, there is not anything in the Bible of God creating any other human beings than Adam and Eve. Where did the land of Nod come from, and where did the people in the land of Nod come from. Taking the bible at a literal reading, the land of Nod cannot exist, and further reading in Leviticus and Deuteronomy forbid sexual relations with brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc… Yet, in Genesis, it would seem that it is the accepted norm to procreate with brothers and sisters, as well as possible with Mothers and Fathers. This is just from taking the Bible at a literal reading, and is further backed up in Chapter 5.
Genesis 5
When Adam was 130 years old, Seth was born. Adam lived to be 930 years old, and produced other sons and daughters. Seth, at 105 years, produced a son, and afterwards other sons and daughters.
Exodus 21
These chapters speak of laws governing the Israelites.
Numbers 5
The following chapters speak of other laws and rules governing the Israelites in the desert.
Deuteronomy 7 onward
Further rules and laws governing the Israelites.
Noteable is chapter 14 for the discussion on Leviticus.
Leviticus 11
Verse 1: The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. The coney, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have asplit hoof, it is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales – whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water – you are to detest. And since you are to detest them, you must not eattheir meat and you must detest their carcasses. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.
These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable” the eagle, the vulture, the clack vulture, the red kite, any kind of black kite, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the white owl, the osprey, the stork any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. But all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest.
You will make yourselves unclean by these: whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Whoever picks up on of their carcasses must wash his clothes and he will be unclean till evening.
Where is the simplicity of Christmas?
What happened to the happy times we all remember as children, when parents and kids, as well as families gathered, and good times were had by all. Did those times really exist, or did we just hope they did? I have memories of mostly fights and hard times during the holidays, especially having the time to spend with both my Mother and Father, and the guilt put upon me if I even hinted of spending time with one or the other. Happy times?
Well, it was for the friends and church, and sledding, and well, all those good times. Hence, in later years, I have finally picked my own family, hand chosen, and we all have memories of hard times during the holiday’s. How do we correct those?
.
Christmas on December 25th, a picked holiday for the celebration of Christ’s birth, set in winter, close to the Feast of Mithra in ancient Rome. After the American Revolution, there was no Christmas for 67 years, as it was considered a holiday of the Crown, and had no place in American Life at the time. Congress worked on that day for many years. However, Christmas was reinvented in America as a more secular holiday.
Why is it that some people do not have the drive, or the ambition to do things with their lives, and then get angry when they figure out that they could have done things, but just didn’t. This is completely self destructive and also can kill ambition in others as they set out to put them down, and keep them down with abusive behavior, much like a bully from childhood days. Perhaps they should grow up and face the realities in their lives and accept that they are the cause of their own problems, and not the world around them. Life would be so nice if that were the case, where people accepted responsibility for their own actions, instead of blaming others for their shortcomings.
It’s very interesting to me, the way that people are judgemental and have to put labels on people or behaviors. There is a lack of understanding or accepting that is all consuming. From the environs of the uneducated life, there is not the ability to comprehend how a man can be a good cook, or have taste and like the finer things in life. Instead, there are labels that pertain to what is a woman’s place and what is a man’s place in the world. Just when you think you have all this figured out, it changes with the new people that come into your life, and it’s sometimes very uncomfortable, and the insanity of the world comes back full circle to you.
What’s all this about a college education and a college degree. It is my experience, as a man, with advanced degrees, that number one, it is harder to get a job that it is if I just put on the application that I graduated High School. And, if I do get the job, I end up being the lowest paid on the ladder of “success”, than the person that has a junior high education, and no GED, doing the same job. However, it seems that I end up doing their job and mine, as they continue to get the paycheck. Good luck getting the foot in the door, as that is the hardest to do with an education.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Today’s Sordid Judgementalness
Today, I am praying for guidance in a seemingly tempestuous world, a world that is consumed with credentializing every aspect of life, proving or not proving what is and what is not.
Do we really have the right to judge others by our personal criteria? What are the metrics of success we expect everyone around us to adhere to? Perhaps we should drop our perceptions of what we expect of others and learn to look at people as individuals with gifts, talents and skills that have been developed differently than our personal ones and learn to accept the person as a unique individual and not depend on some mundane paper trail of life.
Do our preconceived perceptions and societal norms rule our decision making process? Can we actually look at someone without these preconceived quantifiers and actually see the person? Are we interested more in social/societal value or in the human/spiritual traits standing right in front of us…questions of life to ponder on a regular basis?
I challenge you to a task, take a dollar bill out of your pocket, loot at it, admire it, look at the picture of the President and pay appropriate homage to that picture. Now, recognizing the power of the piece of paper you hold in your hand, very gently and with reverence, tear it into pieces, feel the feelings as you tear up and icon of wealth and security. Let it put itself back together, stand there and watch it struggle to become whole again. I’ll wait patiently. Eventually, you will pick up that dollar bill and try to tape it back together, and make it acceptable in everyone’s mind, but it’s still just a piece of paper that holds some astronomical power and control in our lives.
Without human hands and minds that piece of paper doesn’t exist or cannot exist, it is something created by man, with this piece of paper you are holding in your hand is created by man, the gift and the blessing is the person standing there in front of you that wrote this and shared it with you, by whatever means possible and probable.
As we prepare to walk through these days we have on this earth, it’s my prayer for us to look at people just as they are and not expect anything else. The blessing is the human contact we share, one to another, where every aspect of a person’s reality and life is shown. “The proof is in the pudding, not the pudding in the proof!”
Do we really have the right to judge others by our personal criteria? What are the metrics of success we expect everyone around us to adhere to? Perhaps we should drop our perceptions of what we expect of others and learn to look at people as individuals with gifts, talents and skills that have been developed differently than our personal ones and learn to accept the person as a unique individual and not depend on some mundane paper trail of life.
Do our preconceived perceptions and societal norms rule our decision making process? Can we actually look at someone without these preconceived quantifiers and actually see the person? Are we interested more in social/societal value or in the human/spiritual traits standing right in front of us…questions of life to ponder on a regular basis?
I challenge you to a task, take a dollar bill out of your pocket, loot at it, admire it, look at the picture of the President and pay appropriate homage to that picture. Now, recognizing the power of the piece of paper you hold in your hand, very gently and with reverence, tear it into pieces, feel the feelings as you tear up and icon of wealth and security. Let it put itself back together, stand there and watch it struggle to become whole again. I’ll wait patiently. Eventually, you will pick up that dollar bill and try to tape it back together, and make it acceptable in everyone’s mind, but it’s still just a piece of paper that holds some astronomical power and control in our lives.
Without human hands and minds that piece of paper doesn’t exist or cannot exist, it is something created by man, with this piece of paper you are holding in your hand is created by man, the gift and the blessing is the person standing there in front of you that wrote this and shared it with you, by whatever means possible and probable.
As we prepare to walk through these days we have on this earth, it’s my prayer for us to look at people just as they are and not expect anything else. The blessing is the human contact we share, one to another, where every aspect of a person’s reality and life is shown. “The proof is in the pudding, not the pudding in the proof!”
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sacred or Secular?
I am in the process of preparing for some solo recitals and possibly getting back into the seasonal soiree's so encompassing for performing artists. What a relentless conundrum of exhaustive practicing and meticulous technical work!
In the course of this re-development of the musical arts, I am in a quandry as to what actually denotes sacred and secular music/performances and actions. Posting to the internet I have asked for input on these concepts and a bit of the discussion (with annotations in the proper places) seems appropriate at this time.
Let's take the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, K. 622 for Clarinet in A. The second movement is considered a movement full of melancholy and very intense emotions when performed a certain way. Is that what Mozart intended for this movement? Perhaps, looking at it from a different aspect, it can be interpreted as a movement showing love and adoration of a spiritual nature for expression on the concert stage around the world, or in a church service for meditation, prayer and thought about the Love of God and how it is shared.
Of course, there is the cadenza in the middle of the piece, where it is left up to the performer to give their own interpretation, unaccompanied, of the thematic materials of the piece or the freedom to interject various aspects of the spirit of the day in which it is performed.
I am considering, for a sharing experience in the sacred service of life at church the following, for the cadenza, a Pete Fountain, jazzy rendition of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" or some some other soulful and fulfilling interjection of spirtual faith and love.
A bit out of character with the Concerto itself? Perhaps not, who's to know, so I ask the question of anyone out there, "What Would Mozart Do?"
In the course of this re-development of the musical arts, I am in a quandry as to what actually denotes sacred and secular music/performances and actions. Posting to the internet I have asked for input on these concepts and a bit of the discussion (with annotations in the proper places) seems appropriate at this time.
Let's take the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, K. 622 for Clarinet in A. The second movement is considered a movement full of melancholy and very intense emotions when performed a certain way. Is that what Mozart intended for this movement? Perhaps, looking at it from a different aspect, it can be interpreted as a movement showing love and adoration of a spiritual nature for expression on the concert stage around the world, or in a church service for meditation, prayer and thought about the Love of God and how it is shared.
Of course, there is the cadenza in the middle of the piece, where it is left up to the performer to give their own interpretation, unaccompanied, of the thematic materials of the piece or the freedom to interject various aspects of the spirit of the day in which it is performed.
I am considering, for a sharing experience in the sacred service of life at church the following, for the cadenza, a Pete Fountain, jazzy rendition of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" or some some other soulful and fulfilling interjection of spirtual faith and love.
A bit out of character with the Concerto itself? Perhaps not, who's to know, so I ask the question of anyone out there, "What Would Mozart Do?"
Friday, August 28, 2009
Mediocrity and the Impact it has on our Lives
Perhaps you can take a moment and contemplate exactly what is going on in your life! Are you doing things that are inspired or are you merely just going about the day, looking at the clock waiting for it to be over?
I have been a clock watcher a lot in my life, waiting for the bell in class, waiting for the shift to end at work, and as a union musician, watching that union clock for the next break. I think of all the things I have missed in being so anxious about time, and how I spend it, whether it is of value or if I am just filling in the blanks with some busy work.
Spiritually, if I don't look at these "times" as sharing opportunities, I feel I am missing the whole point of even existing. At this point, I wonder how many of us just take up space on this earth and how many are waiting for something fantastic to happen in their day, life, or even their suppossed meger existence.
Wow, I could of had a V8 instead of being here...hehehehe (my off the wall sense of humor comes into play a lot).
Anyway, back to the topic at hand....I am studying the life of Gideon as well as David. Both of these biblical characters grew to be an army of 1 and defeated many odds that in today's world are seeming unsurmountable. Gideon reminds me of the soul that is seeking to lead people that have gone astray, back into the fold and David, with a mere rock, defeated the Philistine Army with one blow to the giant Goliath. These actions are unheard of in today's world, it takes massive armies to even perform a police action around the world.
Interesting concept, sounds pretty mundane to me, a lot of lives put on the line for some greedy people who wish to control the world in a massive ploy of control issues. Maybe, if their mothers and fathers had gone the extra mile (responsibly) and taught values to their children, the world would not be in the mess it has been for millenia.
Mediocrity comes into play in value judgements that are just not in sync with wholeness and wellness. Lack of care, concern and the willingness to take the easy road (go with the flow) concept overtakes legititamite reasoning and deduction processes and replaces these ideals with knee jerk reactions. Envy,Greed, Longing seem to come into play, not only for physical posessions of others, but also the inner strength that is shown by people who truly recognize God as the leader of their life and pay homage to Him instead of themselves. To show humility in today's world usually leads to some form of human humiliation and becomes circumspect in our realities.
There are some traits and some questions that are having an impact on my life right now that I would like to share with everyone who is interested and is not feeling the need to watch the clock.
From "Living Above The Level of Mediocrity" By Charles R. Swindoll....
1. Openly acknowledge what caused our present condition.
2. Focus Directly on the Lord and not the odds against you.
3. Declare your allegiance publicly.
4. Remeber that God pefers to work through a remnant.
5. Do not accept the glory after God uses your life!
I am taking off now for some serious contemplation on the inner workings of a swiss watch, and admiring the craftmanship of each individual part and the people that developed and worked on the craftmanship and the integrity in it and in them, people I will never meet and will probably never know, and give thanks to God for their intricate work on the timepiece that keeps time for me right now.....
I have been a clock watcher a lot in my life, waiting for the bell in class, waiting for the shift to end at work, and as a union musician, watching that union clock for the next break. I think of all the things I have missed in being so anxious about time, and how I spend it, whether it is of value or if I am just filling in the blanks with some busy work.
Spiritually, if I don't look at these "times" as sharing opportunities, I feel I am missing the whole point of even existing. At this point, I wonder how many of us just take up space on this earth and how many are waiting for something fantastic to happen in their day, life, or even their suppossed meger existence.
Wow, I could of had a V8 instead of being here...hehehehe (my off the wall sense of humor comes into play a lot).
Anyway, back to the topic at hand....I am studying the life of Gideon as well as David. Both of these biblical characters grew to be an army of 1 and defeated many odds that in today's world are seeming unsurmountable. Gideon reminds me of the soul that is seeking to lead people that have gone astray, back into the fold and David, with a mere rock, defeated the Philistine Army with one blow to the giant Goliath. These actions are unheard of in today's world, it takes massive armies to even perform a police action around the world.
Interesting concept, sounds pretty mundane to me, a lot of lives put on the line for some greedy people who wish to control the world in a massive ploy of control issues. Maybe, if their mothers and fathers had gone the extra mile (responsibly) and taught values to their children, the world would not be in the mess it has been for millenia.
Mediocrity comes into play in value judgements that are just not in sync with wholeness and wellness. Lack of care, concern and the willingness to take the easy road (go with the flow) concept overtakes legititamite reasoning and deduction processes and replaces these ideals with knee jerk reactions. Envy,Greed, Longing seem to come into play, not only for physical posessions of others, but also the inner strength that is shown by people who truly recognize God as the leader of their life and pay homage to Him instead of themselves. To show humility in today's world usually leads to some form of human humiliation and becomes circumspect in our realities.
There are some traits and some questions that are having an impact on my life right now that I would like to share with everyone who is interested and is not feeling the need to watch the clock.
From "Living Above The Level of Mediocrity" By Charles R. Swindoll....
1. Openly acknowledge what caused our present condition.
2. Focus Directly on the Lord and not the odds against you.
3. Declare your allegiance publicly.
4. Remeber that God pefers to work through a remnant.
5. Do not accept the glory after God uses your life!
I am taking off now for some serious contemplation on the inner workings of a swiss watch, and admiring the craftmanship of each individual part and the people that developed and worked on the craftmanship and the integrity in it and in them, people I will never meet and will probably never know, and give thanks to God for their intricate work on the timepiece that keeps time for me right now.....
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
My Ultimate Autobiography...
Chapter 1: I Am Born
Chapter 2: I Live (see attached)
Chapter 3: To Be Continued Indefinitely, Check Back for Updates....
Chapter 2: I Live (see attached)
Chapter 3: To Be Continued Indefinitely, Check Back for Updates....
What is Love?
Love to me is, (fill in the blank), and there you have it. Love is a very personal thing, with many so called "definers" in today's world. In the biblical text, it is mentioned and discussed with definitions that seem to define an unselfish sharing and caring type of love Romans and Corinthians for example). But around these descriptors are many other events and serializations that can seemingly disprove the basic concepts and spirit of faith and understanding.
How do we as individuals, define love in our life? A very sincere question for anyone to contemplate. Aa a person in what I percieve as life recovery, love has taken on many different meanings, such as, Control, Opression, Loss of self worth and self esteem, People Pleasing, Acceptance Issues (I'll love you if....), and various statements of the amount of love given and taken.
In treatment many decades ago, one of the counselors had us put on one piece of paper what we perceived God to be in our lives from everything we had learned and what had led us to the path of self destruction. On another piece of paper, he had us write what we wanted God to be in our lives, and the definers were very different. I will follow through on this later in the week, hopefully, but just be aware, that was a defining day in my life and the beginning of a wonderful spiritual awakening!
Perhaps a reading of Romans and Corinthians would be in order, not only about love, but it's responsibility as well as the gifts we are given and how they can be used.
(This is a work in Progress, not yet completed...)
How do we as individuals, define love in our life? A very sincere question for anyone to contemplate. Aa a person in what I percieve as life recovery, love has taken on many different meanings, such as, Control, Opression, Loss of self worth and self esteem, People Pleasing, Acceptance Issues (I'll love you if....), and various statements of the amount of love given and taken.
In treatment many decades ago, one of the counselors had us put on one piece of paper what we perceived God to be in our lives from everything we had learned and what had led us to the path of self destruction. On another piece of paper, he had us write what we wanted God to be in our lives, and the definers were very different. I will follow through on this later in the week, hopefully, but just be aware, that was a defining day in my life and the beginning of a wonderful spiritual awakening!
Perhaps a reading of Romans and Corinthians would be in order, not only about love, but it's responsibility as well as the gifts we are given and how they can be used.
(This is a work in Progress, not yet completed...)
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Valueless Life
I keep reading, with utter dismay, of all the conflicts in the world that seem to drive up the price of essential commodities that promote human life.
In Russia and the Ukraine, people are freezing to death, and there is a fight. In the Middle East, there are wars on top of wars that seem to regulate the price of Oil.
Around the world, people are freezing, unable to afford the very thing that could prevent that, meanwhile the price of Oil keeps going up so the Oil Barons can get richer. To what end do these riches yield? “What value does a man have, if he gains all the possessions in the world and loses his soul? Praise the Dollar as God Himself!”
I question the bailouts in the US, for bailing out the ones that spend money foolishly and care nothing about the common man, I question the Oil Barons, who speculate on the price of a necessary commodity in this day and time, as if they were shooting craps at the casino. Guess what folks, there is an eventual crap out, where the house takes all the table stakes and your left with just a little bit in reserve, perhaps to speculate some more a push for more wealth, no matter what the personal cost is.
In Houston, Texas, as a disabled vet on limited income, the energy companies here don’t hesitate in the heat of summer or the dead of winter to cut the necessities of life for not paying the entire extravagant bills they send. There is no heart and soul in these actions, only dollar signs, and human life is not even worth a penny to them if it’s not in their pockets.
What’s happened to the world? I really don’t know, and I question all humanity on this issue. What happened to the days when people actually cared about other people, and would belly up and provide for each other, no matter what the cost. Have we become that selfish and self centered as a society? How about just sitting with someone, perhaps that person on the street, laughing with them, giving them your smile…..it doesn’t cost you a penny, but it does take about 5 seconds of your precious time. Sounds pretty cheap to me, except….time is the most precious commodity we have to give each other. To bad, in this hectic world, we take that for granted and spend the time we have chasing the almighty dollar that sharing God’s Love with each other.
Who knows, in an ideal society, there would be no hunger, no greediness, no lack of self worth, no suffering, no loneliness……perhaps we would be one people, together, with full lives and no worries about today.
“But of these, three remain faith, hope and love…but…the greatest of these is Love!”
In Russia and the Ukraine, people are freezing to death, and there is a fight. In the Middle East, there are wars on top of wars that seem to regulate the price of Oil.
Around the world, people are freezing, unable to afford the very thing that could prevent that, meanwhile the price of Oil keeps going up so the Oil Barons can get richer. To what end do these riches yield? “What value does a man have, if he gains all the possessions in the world and loses his soul? Praise the Dollar as God Himself!”
I question the bailouts in the US, for bailing out the ones that spend money foolishly and care nothing about the common man, I question the Oil Barons, who speculate on the price of a necessary commodity in this day and time, as if they were shooting craps at the casino. Guess what folks, there is an eventual crap out, where the house takes all the table stakes and your left with just a little bit in reserve, perhaps to speculate some more a push for more wealth, no matter what the personal cost is.
In Houston, Texas, as a disabled vet on limited income, the energy companies here don’t hesitate in the heat of summer or the dead of winter to cut the necessities of life for not paying the entire extravagant bills they send. There is no heart and soul in these actions, only dollar signs, and human life is not even worth a penny to them if it’s not in their pockets.
What’s happened to the world? I really don’t know, and I question all humanity on this issue. What happened to the days when people actually cared about other people, and would belly up and provide for each other, no matter what the cost. Have we become that selfish and self centered as a society? How about just sitting with someone, perhaps that person on the street, laughing with them, giving them your smile…..it doesn’t cost you a penny, but it does take about 5 seconds of your precious time. Sounds pretty cheap to me, except….time is the most precious commodity we have to give each other. To bad, in this hectic world, we take that for granted and spend the time we have chasing the almighty dollar that sharing God’s Love with each other.
Who knows, in an ideal society, there would be no hunger, no greediness, no lack of self worth, no suffering, no loneliness……perhaps we would be one people, together, with full lives and no worries about today.
“But of these, three remain faith, hope and love…but…the greatest of these is Love!”
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Xenophobia, Megalomania, And all kinds of ruts!
To begin with, the topic of the sermon for Sunday, July 19, 2009 was extremely thought provoking. One of my prayer partners had a wonderful conversation with me about the meaning of the word itself and how it is applicable to church. Well, hang on heathcliffe, what an awareness of not only our attitudes as Christians, but also our attitudes and perceptions of others that we feel are different from ourselves.
In doing research on the topic itself before church, I came across many cultural and societal differentiations as well as spiritual. The most comprehensive statement was found on the MOST website and is as follows: “An attitudinal orientation of hostility against non-natives in a given population.” After much thought, meditation and prayer, I have reached a conclusion in my life that perhaps I need to work on better understanding various cultures even within Houston itself.
The feelings that I am having are of a migrant worker status, very transitory here in Houston, and not to be taken seriously. In other words, I to shall pass on to the next job, the next adventure, the next whatever, and will no footprint here in Houston, because it is not the way things have been done. I hear the demeaning way people talk about each other, IE: Wetback, Spic, Kike, Tennessean, Californian, Northerner, among others, and here I have concluded that being an outsider with different ideals, norms, situations, that I am not allowed to express these ideas, because of some preconceived notion that I and people like me will take over and change things. A great fear here in Houston, perhaps founded or perhaps unfounded, this remains to be seen.
In my feelings, growth does not mean destruction, knowledge leads to wisdom, communication with understanding leads to a melding and appreciation of various cultures and societal norms. Perhaps we are all afraid of the realities that surround us, varying ideologies, varying ways of doing things, each one not superior, but just a way of doing things. In my way of thinking and feeling, there is not a right way or a wrong way, there are just many ways to do anything and everything.
Without creating alarm, perhaps the question could be “What Would Jesus Do?”. We tend to leave that question as a stand alone question, however, I do see things a bit differently, and follow up with the question, “How Would Jesus Do It?” Just another way of looking at a very popular question in our Christian way of life. Are we Acting as a Christian should Act (by perception), or are we putting our Christian way of live into Action itself? Acting a part is exhilarating, to say the least, but actually living the life is a whole different concept perhaps, that many are not familiar with. Acceptance and understanding are majors parts of feeling and sharing love. Going on the premise that we are all sinners and are save by grace, are we not all equal in the eyes and sight of God? The bible speaks in Romans as well as throughout the New Testament of the differences that already existed in the Christian Faith, and the acceptance/understanding issues of the day. Perhaps we have not learned yet that in our cultural diverseness, there is a great strength and power for learning other ways, and while we may not adhere to them personally, they are all valid ways of expressions of faith, hope and love.
I believe for now, these are enough questions to approach a situation in all our lives and carry forward from here…
A great website for me! In Touch Ministries..
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas
In doing research on the topic itself before church, I came across many cultural and societal differentiations as well as spiritual. The most comprehensive statement was found on the MOST website and is as follows: “An attitudinal orientation of hostility against non-natives in a given population.” After much thought, meditation and prayer, I have reached a conclusion in my life that perhaps I need to work on better understanding various cultures even within Houston itself.
The feelings that I am having are of a migrant worker status, very transitory here in Houston, and not to be taken seriously. In other words, I to shall pass on to the next job, the next adventure, the next whatever, and will no footprint here in Houston, because it is not the way things have been done. I hear the demeaning way people talk about each other, IE: Wetback, Spic, Kike, Tennessean, Californian, Northerner, among others, and here I have concluded that being an outsider with different ideals, norms, situations, that I am not allowed to express these ideas, because of some preconceived notion that I and people like me will take over and change things. A great fear here in Houston, perhaps founded or perhaps unfounded, this remains to be seen.
In my feelings, growth does not mean destruction, knowledge leads to wisdom, communication with understanding leads to a melding and appreciation of various cultures and societal norms. Perhaps we are all afraid of the realities that surround us, varying ideologies, varying ways of doing things, each one not superior, but just a way of doing things. In my way of thinking and feeling, there is not a right way or a wrong way, there are just many ways to do anything and everything.
Without creating alarm, perhaps the question could be “What Would Jesus Do?”. We tend to leave that question as a stand alone question, however, I do see things a bit differently, and follow up with the question, “How Would Jesus Do It?” Just another way of looking at a very popular question in our Christian way of life. Are we Acting as a Christian should Act (by perception), or are we putting our Christian way of live into Action itself? Acting a part is exhilarating, to say the least, but actually living the life is a whole different concept perhaps, that many are not familiar with. Acceptance and understanding are majors parts of feeling and sharing love. Going on the premise that we are all sinners and are save by grace, are we not all equal in the eyes and sight of God? The bible speaks in Romans as well as throughout the New Testament of the differences that already existed in the Christian Faith, and the acceptance/understanding issues of the day. Perhaps we have not learned yet that in our cultural diverseness, there is a great strength and power for learning other ways, and while we may not adhere to them personally, they are all valid ways of expressions of faith, hope and love.
I believe for now, these are enough questions to approach a situation in all our lives and carry forward from here…
A great website for me! In Touch Ministries..
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Ulitimate Equipose
“If they say, Come Along with us, let’s lie in wait for someone’s blood, let’s waylay some harmless soul; lets swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in you lot with us, and we will share a common purse!”. (By the way, there is more to this statement than just this, but, taken out of context, perceptions can change and be manipulated for the ultimate control factor)
In the prophetic words of a man named Solomon, true values that hold through the ages, have been pushed aside throughout history. Why, you may ask, are things like this done? Perhaps it’s that special gift that God has given us, free will, the ability to make choices in our lives that lead us to life, or to destruction/death per say.
What are some of the realities of today, seemingly no respect for elders, the have and have not, the social strata that envelopes all of us, the mass consumerism that rules our lives all leading to various complexities of personality disorders. Some call these disorders Sin, others call them just a fad or phase and then again, who’s to say? Gossip and innuendo seem to be more powerful in our society and world than truth and integrity. Looking at the magazines, the news on tv and in the paper, there seems to be a proliferation not only of porn, but false statements and misconceptions pushed just to get ratings and sell advertisement. Humm very destructive things for all of us, and yet we bite into it on a daily basis.
Trust, wow, what a term! Trust implies honesty, integrity and other very wonderful heartfelt values to maintain between even two people (much less trusting yourself to make appropriate decisions). Trust in relationships is waylaid by undercurrents of accusatory statements, criticizing others without looking at your self first. In actuality, most of us, as human beings, are hypercritical of ourselves and take for granted that we have the right to judge others on our own metrics of life, instead of attempting to understand the other persons’ metrics.
Perhaps an exceptional evaluation of personal metrics and what criteria we base this on is in order. The metrics of my life are probably not the same as anyone else, but they may be close in a comparative sense. Definitions and values, even though they have the same wordings, still vary in perception of what is real and what is not, and can be twisted and used against people at will, or, the opposite of this coin could be the ability to accept and understand the other persons perception, and not take it as a criticism of your personal perceptions.
Perhaps it’s time for a personal introspection and going through that 4th step in the 12 step program, a fearless and personal moral inventory and see just what our individual metrics are, and whether they fit our perceptions of various values or not……
In the prophetic words of a man named Solomon, true values that hold through the ages, have been pushed aside throughout history. Why, you may ask, are things like this done? Perhaps it’s that special gift that God has given us, free will, the ability to make choices in our lives that lead us to life, or to destruction/death per say.
What are some of the realities of today, seemingly no respect for elders, the have and have not, the social strata that envelopes all of us, the mass consumerism that rules our lives all leading to various complexities of personality disorders. Some call these disorders Sin, others call them just a fad or phase and then again, who’s to say? Gossip and innuendo seem to be more powerful in our society and world than truth and integrity. Looking at the magazines, the news on tv and in the paper, there seems to be a proliferation not only of porn, but false statements and misconceptions pushed just to get ratings and sell advertisement. Humm very destructive things for all of us, and yet we bite into it on a daily basis.
Trust, wow, what a term! Trust implies honesty, integrity and other very wonderful heartfelt values to maintain between even two people (much less trusting yourself to make appropriate decisions). Trust in relationships is waylaid by undercurrents of accusatory statements, criticizing others without looking at your self first. In actuality, most of us, as human beings, are hypercritical of ourselves and take for granted that we have the right to judge others on our own metrics of life, instead of attempting to understand the other persons’ metrics.
Perhaps an exceptional evaluation of personal metrics and what criteria we base this on is in order. The metrics of my life are probably not the same as anyone else, but they may be close in a comparative sense. Definitions and values, even though they have the same wordings, still vary in perception of what is real and what is not, and can be twisted and used against people at will, or, the opposite of this coin could be the ability to accept and understand the other persons perception, and not take it as a criticism of your personal perceptions.
Perhaps it’s time for a personal introspection and going through that 4th step in the 12 step program, a fearless and personal moral inventory and see just what our individual metrics are, and whether they fit our perceptions of various values or not……
Monday, July 13, 2009
Tis the gift to be simple tis the gift to be free!
'Tis the gift to be simple,'tis the gift to be free,'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,And when we find ourselves in the place just right,It will be in the valley of love and delight.
Refrain:
When true simplicity is gained,To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.To turn, turn will be our delight,'Til by turning, turning we come round right
'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,
Refrain:
'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",And when we hear what others really think and really feel,Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.
Labels: Copland, Hymnology, simplicity, spirit
Refrain:
When true simplicity is gained,To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.To turn, turn will be our delight,'Til by turning, turning we come round right
'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,
Refrain:
'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",And when we hear what others really think and really feel,Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.
Labels: Copland, Hymnology, simplicity, spirit
Saint Andrews Prayer, July 14, 2009
God our Father, we come to You as your own people - grateful because You have chosen us for adoption into Your family. You decided this before you every created any of us. You did no t leave this to chance. Your are not about chance, it is Your nature. You are a God who is intentional and it is your intention that we should belong to You as much as Your Son, Jesus Christ. You were the first one and we follow in the way You have made for us and it's eternal! A place for each of us, so that where You are, we may be also, when we choose You. God, You have chosen us, now we muct choose You. We must choose You with all our heart, soul, mind, energy.
Holy Spirit, where is it that I am not choosing You completely?.....Jesus, where I am affraid of being inadequate, or afraid that Your provision will not be adequate, please help my faith in You to grow....
Jesus, all things find their satisfaction in You....We are surrounded by situations and projects and commitments that are incomplete or broken down and we participate in relationships that are not satisfying. We bring these to You now...bring Your presence inoto these situations to heal them as we pray.
Jesus, Your Presence brings wholeness.
From Jane Whitney, given to Jere Douglas after the service.
Holy Spirit, where is it that I am not choosing You completely?.....Jesus, where I am affraid of being inadequate, or afraid that Your provision will not be adequate, please help my faith in You to grow....
Jesus, all things find their satisfaction in You....We are surrounded by situations and projects and commitments that are incomplete or broken down and we participate in relationships that are not satisfying. We bring these to You now...bring Your presence inoto these situations to heal them as we pray.
Jesus, Your Presence brings wholeness.
From Jane Whitney, given to Jere Douglas after the service.
Is Dead really Dead?
Most people dream of happiness, others stay awake and make it happen!
“Forgive and Forget?! This concept to me, doesn’t work on the front end, because I don’t know what I’m forgiving and the emotions get buried and I’m unable to move past the experience. The emotions you are tying to bring to the surface are the very ones you have long tried to bury and forget.
Dead is Dead!
Get over it, they’re Dead, they’re not here anymore…
My, what a statement to make to someone who has just lost a loved one. That’s probably the most offensive statement I’ve ever heard in my life, from a supposed well meaning “Christian”. A very destructive statement perhaps meant with the best of intentions, but against the very nature and beliefs of the Christian Faith. This reminds me of Madeline Murray O’Hare and her statements about God being dead.
On simplistic proven scientific principles, physical matter simply transfigures into other forms of matter, take for example, burning logs in the fireplace for warmth, the logs turn to ashes which are then disposed of a put back into the ground or recycled in another way. Spiritual Matter, on the other hand has no tangible or materialistic formation, per say, meaning it’s not something we can hold in our hands and actually use the sense of touch to feel. However, the feelings of love surrounding the person who is no longer physically standing beside us, continue forward, perhaps for the rest of our physical lives on this earth. Feelings and spirit are not a tangible, black and white thing and sometimes are hard to identify. Perhaps the hurt and pain of losing someone near to you takes over and there is a refusal to even acknowledge the pain of loss. The out of mind syndrome comes to mind here, if we just ignore the pain and them, then it’s as if they never existed.
Based on these premises alone, Dead is not Dead, it’s just a transference of physical presence into another form of matter.
“Forgive and Forget?! This concept to me, doesn’t work on the front end, because I don’t know what I’m forgiving and the emotions get buried and I’m unable to move past the experience. The emotions you are tying to bring to the surface are the very ones you have long tried to bury and forget.
Dead is Dead!
Get over it, they’re Dead, they’re not here anymore…
My, what a statement to make to someone who has just lost a loved one. That’s probably the most offensive statement I’ve ever heard in my life, from a supposed well meaning “Christian”. A very destructive statement perhaps meant with the best of intentions, but against the very nature and beliefs of the Christian Faith. This reminds me of Madeline Murray O’Hare and her statements about God being dead.
On simplistic proven scientific principles, physical matter simply transfigures into other forms of matter, take for example, burning logs in the fireplace for warmth, the logs turn to ashes which are then disposed of a put back into the ground or recycled in another way. Spiritual Matter, on the other hand has no tangible or materialistic formation, per say, meaning it’s not something we can hold in our hands and actually use the sense of touch to feel. However, the feelings of love surrounding the person who is no longer physically standing beside us, continue forward, perhaps for the rest of our physical lives on this earth. Feelings and spirit are not a tangible, black and white thing and sometimes are hard to identify. Perhaps the hurt and pain of losing someone near to you takes over and there is a refusal to even acknowledge the pain of loss. The out of mind syndrome comes to mind here, if we just ignore the pain and them, then it’s as if they never existed.
Based on these premises alone, Dead is not Dead, it’s just a transference of physical presence into another form of matter.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
My New Shoes
My New Shoes
Shared via AddThis
A free style poem about new shoes and their significance to the returning vets....
Shared via AddThis
A free style poem about new shoes and their significance to the returning vets....
Accept Me As I Am, Please!
Accept me as I am, Please, it's taken me a while to get here and I'm still a work in progress!
Follow the link above for the complete work...
Follow the link above for the complete work...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)