SB 40 goes into effect in California public schools in January 2012.  You can view the CHARISMA NEWS article here http://www.charismanews.com/culture/32431-ads-urge-california-parents-to-rescue-children-from-sexual-indoctrination.

I find this to be very disturbing!  Social engineering is NOT  what the government should be doing with our children.  Why don’t we try actually concentrating on the science, math and reading skills of our children?  How much further down the scale will we allow our public schools to slide before we stand up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

And just how do you explain to a child in kindergarten, first or second grade about LGBTs?  Is that really what classroom instruction time should be used for?  Well according to the lawmakers in California it is!

You see first those of us in the “straight camp” were expected to tolerate the LGBTs.  Then we were expected to accept the LGBTs.  Now it seems we are supposed to allow our children to be taught to worship them?! 

I will admit I am Old School.  I remember learning about events in history.  I remember learning about people in history.  I don’t remember learning about what sort of sex people were having in school.  And you know what?  Things were okay too.  But now we have to have our children taught about what sort of sex people are having and that they (the children) need to be okay with that or they will be in BIG TROUBLE!

Why can one class of people force their views down the throats of those with differing views?  And don’t try to give me that bull about, “If I don’t openly endorse your life style I am, somehow, intollerant of you.”  Big deal.   I can’t make anyone have sex or stop having sex!

I have allowed myself to demonstrate a behavior of criticalness for so many, many years.  I can not change what I see or observe but I can choose to make better decisions with those observations.

For me, it began when I finally allowed myself to see the destructiveness of my actions.  It seems pretty simple to sit here at this keyboard and bang out “I have destructive  behaviors.”  But it isn’t really that simple.  I mean who wants to look at the negative impact one’s actions are having?   Who wants to admit that they are (in fact) pretty screwed up in the way with which they interact with people as a whole?  That’s not an easy thing to do. However recognizing your faults, as the first step, may very well be the easy part of any intentional lifestyle change.  Recognizing and naming that “wart” is one thing but figuring out the best way to remove the “wart” is an entirely different undertaking all together.

At this point, this is what I have figured out or recognized.  I will still see and observe the same things.  Life is life and I can’t change that.  I will not make any progress by saying (internally) “Keep your mouth shut!  Don’t say anything critical!”  I’m no Harvard educated PhD with a sheep skin in psychology but it seems to me that if I keep reinforcing the negative by telling myself to not be critical then I am still being critical.  I’m just being critical in stealth mode.  It’s much like saying, “Don’t think pink.  Don’t think pink.”  Well guess what I’ll be thinking?  Pink!

I am not able to undergo such a monumental task of change simply through my own genius and self-will. I must recognize and draw on the strength of the One who lives within me.   Therefore, I have begun a concerted effort of trying to view people, situations and circumstances as I imagine the One Whom created them would view them.  Imagining how or what the Creator may or may not observe doesn’t have to be so difficult.  Just look for the good in that person.  Even the most dysfunctional individual has some worth, some good in them(hand raised here).

I haven’t begun yet but….  Quite some time ago, through selfish acts of my choosing, my family went through a very dark and traumatic season.  That too was very difficult and I was only able to pull out of that season through Devine intervention.  I was (literally) brought to my knees.   I began a regular, dedicated time (with a written list) of prayer.  I can not begin to explain the change in the circumstances of  my life or the intense internal peace I felt as some point.  It was incredible and I can’t understand how or why I have allowed myself to fill that time with inconsequential things. A new season is upon me and I am committed to begin anew with this.

I am committed to become the man, the husband, the father, the grandfather and the friend I was (intentionally) created to be.

Due to an injury I sustained several weeks ago I have had the fortune to be able to spend some time alone.  It’s a rare thing.  Having been able to just sit and think about my life has been revelational.  More so than just a fleeting thought would provide.

I have figured out what surely everyone else around me has known for years, that I am one heck of a critical person!  And the joke has been (on me) that I don’t even need to try to be critical.  It comes easy.  How sad is  that?

You see for more than two decades (literally) I have been one of the people on the Neighborhood Committee who sends you the letter about your lawn maintenance, your broken down car, your green slimed house and god forbid you don’t put your trash receptical away in a timely manner!

After all, we all knew when we moved into The Neighborhood that there were restrictive covenants.  Right?  So that’s the justification (for me).  You knew the rules coming in to the game, so don’t cry about you can’t do this or that.  Just fix it!  Your inability to adhere to the restrictive covenants is not only affecting your property values but it is affecting mine, your neighbors and the entire neighborhood as a whole!  Right?

Believe it or not I used to be such a positive person.  I even used to listen to positive motivational tapes “back in the day.”  Back then, if you didn’t actually like being around me you at least didn’t mind having me around.  But who in the world wants to hang around a guy who is critical about anything and everything.  If you have a wart it’s my responsibility to point it out.  After all, you’ve had the wart for a while now and no one else has pointed out.  Surely you want to get that wart treated.  Don’t you?  So now I find myself being the Wart Police and I don’t like it!  The thing is though, that I have allowed this criticalness to become sp deeply seated.  And I hate it!!

So I have determined that I need have to change the way I view life.  I have to change the way I interact with people.  I have to change the way I speak with people.  I have to change ME!

It finally dawned on me that this was one of the plans of the enemy for me (to become so critical).  You see that is how he does it.  He lies to you.  “What you are doing is a good thing.  People need to have their property investment protected.  You can make a worthwhile contribution.”  The enemy knows that if he throws something up in front of me that I can readily recognize as being ungodly or sinful that I will shy away from that.  But give me something that seems worthy and productive that I can slowly pervert and I can and will likely fall for that.

So change is coming.  I know it won’t be easy.  In fact it may be pretty darned difficult.  In fact in the days since I made known to the Neighborhood Board that I will no longer be involved with The Committee I have received no less than two phone calls and one email regarding some ongoing issues.  Sorry but I can no longer help with that.

I don’t recon that this change will be easy or happen over night, but change I must.  I must become the man my Creator imagined me to be when He intentionally created me.  I’ve lost too many years and damaged too many relationships.  I must love my neighbor.  I must speak life to my acquaintances (maybe a couple will become my friend in the process).

Change is in the air and I am taking deep breaths of it!

Filed under: Christianity, Uncategorized Tagged: Change, Christian living, Community Volunteers, Divorce, Family, Love, Morality, Neigborhood Association, Neighborhoos volunteers, Parenting, Personal Sacrifice, Prayer, Restrictive Covenants, Volunteering your time ]]> http://mssc54.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/a-critical-spirit/feed/ 4 mssc54 http://mssc54.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/memorial-day-2011-%e2%80%93-we-still-remember/ http://mssc54.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/memorial-day-2011-%e2%80%93-we-still-remember/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 01:46:54 +0000 mssc54 http://mssc54.wordpress.com/?p=861 ]]>

All of us who claim the Christ as our Savior… how radically could the world have been changed if that one individual had been captured and also become a follower of the Savior?!  Can you even imagine the termoil that would have caused around the world?   Is it  likely that would have happened had he been caught?  Probably not.  Was it possible?  Well, that depends on who’s god you worship.  If you worship the god that required you to kill people who do not worship the same way you worship than it would never happen.  However, if you worship ad serve the One True God then yes, it certainly was possible.

Am I glad he isn’t around to plan and carry out more terrorit plotws against even more innocentws?  Abolutely!  But I can’t say I’m actually glad he is dead.

I must admit though… I never once prayed for that terrorist.  Not even once.  Sure, I pray (occassionally) for terrorsts.  I pray that they too will come to know Truth.  And if they don’t that they not be able to cause other’s harm before they come to THE Truth.

I know my thoughts and opinions are not very popular.  So what.

Here we go again bastardizing yet another Holy Man. 

When St. Patrick was sixteen years old he was captured in his home land of Britain and taken to Ireland as a slave.   Six years later he escaped and returned to his family.  Imagine, as a teenager spending six years in bondage!  Surely he would become bitter.  Not so!  St. Patrick entered the Church and became an ordained Bishop.  At which time he returned to the land where, as a teenager, he was held in slavery.   There, he served as a missionary to the Protestants.  St. Patrick spent his life telling people about the Savior.  St. Patrick wanted everyone to know the only True way to the Father is through the Son.

So let us all celebrate the legacy of  this Holy Man by going out,  getting drunk on green beer, having casual sex with another drunk person, pukeing our guts up and say, ” HAPPY ST. PATRICK’s DAY!!!!!!!”

Perhaps there is a special place for those who use the Godly as their excuse to consume mass quantities of adult beverages.  Perhaps there is.  Think about it.

BE THE EXAMPLE YOU EXPECT TO SEE!!

Much has been written about the Lenten season  I don’t suppose my little ramblings will change much.

In my personal opinion the Church Doctrine of Lent has become a means of allowing many people who say they are Christians to pretty much do as the please throughout the remainder of the year.  However when Lent rolls around these same “sayers” will give up some food group or stop using some technology that consumes a portion of their day or heck, some may even practice acts of benevolence!  But what are these same people replacing those voids in their life with?  During any other time of the year if someone gives up a specific food group what is it called?  It’s a diet.  Right?  If someone takes a break from  technology what is that called?  Maybe a vacation?  If someone practices sporadic acts of benevolence what is that about?  Making the giver feel good about what they are doing?

On the other hand, when people determine that the Holy Spirit (not the calender) is calling them to change destructive patterns of behavior in their life and they obey His leading then there can be true, daily and lasting transformation(s).  The old has passed away…

I think if you approach the season of Lent with the view of “look how bad or slack I’ve been” the enemy has already won.  Guilt does not come from the Lord.  On the other hand, if you approach the season of Lent with the view of  “what daily changes can I make in my life to reflect the teachings of the Savior and too become more Christ-like” then you may be heading in the right direction.

So, are you being lead by the days on a calender or some Church Doctrine?  Or are you seeking The One Who created time?  The former leads to spiritual death.  The later leads to Life eternal.

The choice has always been ours to make.  Choose wisely.

For quite some time now I’ve been seeing SPEEDEE OIL CHANGE commercials on TV claiming that they are “Home Town Heroes.”  Heroes?  Really?

A few months ago I stopped by one of the local franchises to chat with the franchisee about the commercial but he/she wasn’t in.  I have a nice memorial on the back of my van honoring our son-in-law (Sgt Buddy James Hughie) and pointed it out to the manager on duty.  After saving the lives of two wounded comrades our American Hero was killed by a Taliban sniper while working on the third.  For his selfless acts of bravery under fire, Buddy was posthumously awarded two Bronze Star medals with Valor and a Purple Heart medal.

I have been growing more and more concerned about the use of the term “Hero.”  Especially as it relates to those using it for monetary gain.  To me (personally) it just seems inherritantly wrong for anyone to tout themself as a hero so they can put money in their pocket.  I mean in order to be truly heroic you should do something without expecting anything in return.  You know… make some sort of sacrifice.  Not, come on in and we will charge you $35.99 to change your oil and “save” your engine.

So anyway, I stopped by another SPEEDEE OIL CHANGE today.  I went in and there were two people behind the counter.  I thought they both looked familiar so I asked them if they were the “Home Town Heroes” I had seen on TV.  They said they were.  I then asked if I could speak with either or both of them privately.  Steve (the manager) nodded affirmatively and walked outside.  I introduced myself and then handed him a laminated card that has Buddy’s picture on it with the following verbage on it.

In Loving Memory of

SGT. BUDDY JAMES HUGHIE

Husband, Father, Son and an

American Hero

October 23, 1981 – February 19, 2007

Entered eternal rest serving in

Operation Enduring Freedom

Afghanistan, Asia

Steve took a quick glance at it and started to hand it back to me.  I told him to keep it and asked that when he had the time to Google Buddy to see what a remarkable hero he was.  I then explained that I was bothered by their advertisement that they were “Home Town Heroes.”  I asked how they could use the term “hero,” further stating that it cheapens its real meaning for people like our son-in-law.  Steve replies with something like, “hero” has been used for a long time.  What about the kid who has on a T-shirt saying his dad is his hero.  I replied that the kid’s dad has likely made sacrifices for his child and in all likelihood earned the right to be  called “hero.”  We went back and forth for a minute or two with silly stuff like that.  Here is my favorite part;

Steve:  What about the old lady who comes in here with a broken down car?  She can’t go see her family.  We fix her car and she gets to go see her family.  Don’t you think we are heroes to her?

Me:  Seriously?  That’s stretching it a bit don’t you think?

Steve:  Well I think you’re stretching it!

Me:  Wow. (turning to walk away)

Steve:  Have a nice day!

People like Steve and companies who use the term “Hero” in their marketing campaigns to put money in their pockets…. Well, to me, they are War Profiteers!  Our town has a somewhat large populous of military families and for SPEEDEE OIL CHANGE and others to try to push those emotional, patriotic buttons for financial gain (to me) is just despicable!

So, go anywhere but SPEEDEE OIL CHANGE to have your oil changed and car maintenance.  This is one family of a TRUE AMERICAN HERO who would certainly support you doing so!

Here is the Thanksgiving Proclomation made by the first President of the United States.  I wonder what President Obama’s Thanksgiving Day Proclomation will sound like.

In this first Presidential Thanksgiving proclamation there is but One Whom is singled out for ALL NATIONS to implore for protection and favor;

ALMIGHTY GOD 

http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc1789.htm