Paranoia? Or Well Founded Caution.

There is a general sense of unease in our country today.  More and more, people are living in fear. Rumors fly, and are believed by many. 

Case in point. An Internet story recently got transmitted that a large Mexican gang had taken over two small ranches near Laredo Texas. Now, this gang, who are really dangerous people, have struck fear in the hearts of thousands in both Mexico, and the southwestern portion of the US.

I received the story, which was presented by a quasi-legitimate news agency, and passed it via e-mail to a friend who, like me, is retired from a legitimate and well respected agency in the news business.  I say quasi-legitimate, because it is an Internet based agency, and it's credentials are as questionable as anyone who invents a name, and starts posting "news" on the net.

My friend, who has been my mentor in the business, takes a pretty jaded look at news stories, looked at it with his jaundiced eye, and wrote back that he didn't think the story was true. I wrote back, and rattled off a brief history of this gang, which in reality, is a very large paramilitary organization, and thanked him for his input.

Over the next few days, the story grew larger and larger. Finally, another friend, who is a noted author, made some telephone calls to several of the proper authorities, and found out that while the law enforcement people do indeed have serious problems, this case was false.  End of story.

I was much relieved, and e-mailed my mentor the results. He wrote back and kindly reminded me to check my sources. At least I didn't post the story on the web, but transmitted it to him in an e-mail letter.

As I said in the beginning of this message, there is a general sense of unease in our country today. I lived for some years in towns along the Mexican border, and know first hand of the dangers there. On one hand you have the narco-traffickers, and on the other, you have the law enforcement people. along the fringes, are folk living a pretty hardscrabble life, who live by any means they can, most of which, are either illegal, or immoral.  Caught in the middle of this chaos, are regular people. Citizens of the United States, of America, and The Republic of Mexico. People who live their lives, rear their children, and work to support the local economy.  Even among these, there is the uneasiness of living in a war zone. There too, rumors fly. Some well founded, some not.

In these end times in which we live, everyone is affected by the fear and paranoia around us. Some merely hide their head in the sand, some get caught up in it, and others, just say, "Oh, bulls--t!, and get on with their lives.  I really wish that I could be like the latter. Unfortunately, my previous life has left me pretty emotionally scarred. I like many, get too caught up in this world in which we live, rather than remembering that I am a spiritual being, temporarily living in a very flawed body, as we all are.

There is a prayer that I learned many years ago. I often recite it almost like a mantra. It goes:

"God
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen."

Thank God for wise council.

Agape
Lee

Some Thoughts On Elections

There is a movement encouraging people to vote against incumbents.  Probably better in the primary elections, but in the upcoming general voting, it couldn't hurt either.  And not just this election, every election.  We-The-People must regain control of our government.  Either that, or start learning "The International." 

Dear hearts, We are in serious trouble here. If we don't take action, the America that we know will soon be a page in history. 

We must not allow political parties to control us. As I see it, they have abrogated the constitution, and thrown up smoke screens that have blinded us to what is really going on.  The take an issue, blow it out of proportion, and use it to mask a much darker agenda.  For instance, this this imaginary conversation: 

Person #1. "He's a Totalitarian."
Person #2. "But he's against abortion."

Or on the other side of the aisle:

Person #1. "He's a Totalitarian."
Person #2. "But he's for open immigration."

See, the smokescreen is not merely from one party, but from every party. There are brilliant people who study for years on how to manipulate people. My thought is, cut through the smoke and mirrors, and get to the root of the problem. Public servants who do not serve We-The-People.

I have a friend who is in office. I am going to vote against him. (I'm not naming names or political affiliations here) If he loses, a member of the other party will get in. My friend is doing a fairly good job, but out you go.

Our federal employees, and that is what the leaders of our nation are, our employees, have chosen not to implement term limits. Time to implement term limits of our own. One term, then out you go.

It is my opinion, and after all, that's what this blog is, that we need to vote against all incumbents, in every election.

The Mohammed Story

The Mohammed Story


    President Obama dies and finds himself before the Pearly Gates.
                           
    He is very excited; all his life he's had a secret wish & longed to meet the Prophet Mohammed.
                           
    Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, Barrack meets a man with a beard.  'Are you Mohammed?' he asks.
                           
    'No, my son. I am Peter.  Mohammed is higher up.'  Peter then points to a ladder that rises into the clouds.
                           
    Delighted that Mohammed should be higher than Peter, Obama climbs the ladder in great strides, climbs through the clouds and, coming to another room, he meets another bearded man.
                           
    He asks again, 'Are you Mohammed?
                           
    'No, I am Moses. Mohammed is higher still.'
                           
    Exhausted, but with a heart full of joy he climbs the ladder yet again.
                           
    He discovers an even larger room where he meets another man with a beard.  Full of hope, he asks again, 'Are you Mohammed?
                           
    'No, I am Jesus... You will find Mohammed higher up.'
                           
    Mohammed higher than Jesus!  Wow!  Obama can hardly contain his delight and climbs and climbs, ever higher.
    Once again, he reaches an even larger room where he meets a man with a beard and repeats his question:  'Are you Mohammed?...' as he gasps.  Totally out of breath from all his climbing.
                           
    'No, my son....  I am Almighty God.  But you look exhausted.  Would you like a cup of coffee..?'
                           
    'Yes! Please, my Lord'
                           
    God looks behind him, claps his hands and yells out:  'Hey Mohammed-- two coffees!' 


When I first read this, I laughed.  So human.   Putting things and people down... Laughing at their situations.  Yet, it came to me, that the Mohammed of the story, has a very high position. A slave in the house of God. The personal servant of The Lord God of the Universe. How wonderful it must be to be able to bring a cup of coffee to God. To merely be in His presence.

You know, I have committed grievous sins. Even after coming to Jesus. The only thing that keeps me going sometimes is the certain knowledge that I am going to heaven.  I might be a lowly menial servant, but I will be in the presence of God.  Imagine!  Even being allowed to sleep on the floor of God’s palace! To be allowed to serve him a cup of coffee!  Merely to be in His Presence. To know that even though I fall short of the (often self-set) mark here, I will gain my heavenly reward. 

That humbling thought sustains me.  Thank you Jesus.

Agape
Lee