Osama Ben Laden is dead. News reports say that he was killed by American forces in a heavily walled compound in Pakistan.
Now it is time for us to get out of Afghanistan, and Iraq. While the systematic withdrawal is underway in Iraq, It is time to move up the timetable to today. The same goes for our involvement in Afghanistan. Pull out today.
This will send the message to the world that if you touch the sacrosanct soil of The United States of America, we will hunt you down and kill you, and bring death and destruction upon all who aid you.
Pull out this very day and send that message to the Muslim world, and the world at large. We are not to be trifled with.
We have found the one who ordered the attack. He has been dealt with. The message is delivered. Now, it is time for us to bring our troops home. And while we are doing so, bring every bit of the equipment and supplies that we took with us. Do not leave anything behind.
We have gotten our retribution. Time to pull out and leave the people of that region wondering why they would ever do such a stupid thing as to attack the United States.
This may sound like awfully harsh language from a preacher, but it is my considered opinion that in the grand scheme of things, it is the only way in which we as a nation can come out of this thing that we have gotten ourselves into with honor and dignity.
Agape
Lee
Monday, May 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
None Of Our Business
There is a lot of trouble in the world today. There is rioting Northern Africa, Afghanistan, and here in our own country. There is a huge war going on along the US-Mexico border. While these are indeed all signs of the end times, it has come to me, that they are primarily of our own (America’s) making.
Some years ago, the US armed and trained insurgents in Afghanistan, knowing that the then current occupiers, the Soviet Union, could not defeat them. The reason was, to cause The USSR to bankrupt itself, and bring down their government. It worked.
Now, we are the invaders. We are fighting the very same people who were our supposed allies just a few decades ago. You know what? We can’t beat them either, and our involvement there is rapidly bankrupting our own country, and may even cause our government to fail.
There is rioting in Egypt, Libya, and several other nations to overthrow dictators that we had a hand in establishing.
I heard several very partizan speeches from the floor of the US House Of Representatives this morning, condemning actions taken by legislatures in several of the American States.
People are killing people left and right along the US-Mexican border over which “cartel” gets the right to smuggle drugs, guns, and people back and forth across the line.
Friends, nearly all of these problems are of our own doing. It’s time that our American Government stop trying to interfere in the affairs of sovereign nations. What happens there, is none of our business. If the people in those countries have governments with actions and policies with which we do not agree, it is their problem, not ours.
If we had left them alone in the first place, they would have gone along the way they have been going for thousands of years, and while their lives might be miserable by our standards, but by theirs, perfectly normal.
I am against drugs. I know what damage they can do. I must say that the worst part of the damage is caused by the prohibition by our own government of one of our “Certain inalienable rights.” That of “The Pursuit Of Happiness.” No one should be able to tell me how I may pursue happiness. I had to find out for myself. What made me happy then, is not what makes me happy now, and what makes me happy now, did not make me happy then. But, I had to persue those things for myself.
In forbidding the sale and use of drugs other than alcohol, and Alcohol is a drug, our well-meaning legislators have been the root cause of the drug wars, and the direct cause of the loss of thousands of lives, and untold misery to the families of those who are merely trying to persue happiness.
Did you know that more lives have been lost in Ciudad Juarez this year than in our entire evolvement in Afghanistan? And for what? An unenforceable set of laws restricting the right of the people to do as they please.
We have engaged in huge amounts of carnage overseas, and in our own hemisphere, over things that are none of our business. What a person does in his own house is his own business.
We forget that in America, we have equal rights. In most of the world, they do not, and it’s none of our business whether they do, or not.
Is what people are doing in foreign lands right? Perhaps by our standards, but not theirs.
We in America must start taking a jaundiced look at what our government is doing. We must demand that our government get out of all foreign entanglements. Bring our troops home, and stop meddling in the affairs of others.
For instance: In some nations, it is illegal and immoral for women to go out unless they are fully clothed from head to foot. They consider the fact that our free American women are allowed to appear on the beach semi naked, wearing a Bikini bathing suit. So, what would be our attitude if that country, or countries, invaded us, shot our soldiers, invaded our homes, and killed the people who wear that apparel, as well as those who sell it, manufacture it, or advocate it’s use? Reprehensible? Think about it.
That is a pretty far-fetched example, but it is the same thing that we are doing in other countries. Imposing our will, and morals on people who think and believe differently than we.
It’s time to stop. It’s time to no longer be the world’s police force. It’s time we stop being the moral leader, by imposing immoral principles against basically defenseless people. And if they are not defenseless, it is largely because we have armed them.
What other people do, is none of our business, unless it directly involves us on our own soil. We need to stop. Right now.
If the people of some country riot, it’s none of our business. Should we intervene? NO! It’s none of our business. Once we stop trying to change the world and force it to fit in our mold, things will settle down, and we will all be able to live in peace.
If a foreign power invades us, then it becomes our business. We have the means at hand to halt invaders. Otherwise, it is time for America to stop meddling in foreign affairs. They are none of our business.
Some years ago, the US armed and trained insurgents in Afghanistan, knowing that the then current occupiers, the Soviet Union, could not defeat them. The reason was, to cause The USSR to bankrupt itself, and bring down their government. It worked.
Now, we are the invaders. We are fighting the very same people who were our supposed allies just a few decades ago. You know what? We can’t beat them either, and our involvement there is rapidly bankrupting our own country, and may even cause our government to fail.
There is rioting in Egypt, Libya, and several other nations to overthrow dictators that we had a hand in establishing.
I heard several very partizan speeches from the floor of the US House Of Representatives this morning, condemning actions taken by legislatures in several of the American States.
People are killing people left and right along the US-Mexican border over which “cartel” gets the right to smuggle drugs, guns, and people back and forth across the line.
Friends, nearly all of these problems are of our own doing. It’s time that our American Government stop trying to interfere in the affairs of sovereign nations. What happens there, is none of our business. If the people in those countries have governments with actions and policies with which we do not agree, it is their problem, not ours.
If we had left them alone in the first place, they would have gone along the way they have been going for thousands of years, and while their lives might be miserable by our standards, but by theirs, perfectly normal.
I am against drugs. I know what damage they can do. I must say that the worst part of the damage is caused by the prohibition by our own government of one of our “Certain inalienable rights.” That of “The Pursuit Of Happiness.” No one should be able to tell me how I may pursue happiness. I had to find out for myself. What made me happy then, is not what makes me happy now, and what makes me happy now, did not make me happy then. But, I had to persue those things for myself.
In forbidding the sale and use of drugs other than alcohol, and Alcohol is a drug, our well-meaning legislators have been the root cause of the drug wars, and the direct cause of the loss of thousands of lives, and untold misery to the families of those who are merely trying to persue happiness.
Did you know that more lives have been lost in Ciudad Juarez this year than in our entire evolvement in Afghanistan? And for what? An unenforceable set of laws restricting the right of the people to do as they please.
We have engaged in huge amounts of carnage overseas, and in our own hemisphere, over things that are none of our business. What a person does in his own house is his own business.
We forget that in America, we have equal rights. In most of the world, they do not, and it’s none of our business whether they do, or not.
Is what people are doing in foreign lands right? Perhaps by our standards, but not theirs.
We in America must start taking a jaundiced look at what our government is doing. We must demand that our government get out of all foreign entanglements. Bring our troops home, and stop meddling in the affairs of others.
For instance: In some nations, it is illegal and immoral for women to go out unless they are fully clothed from head to foot. They consider the fact that our free American women are allowed to appear on the beach semi naked, wearing a Bikini bathing suit. So, what would be our attitude if that country, or countries, invaded us, shot our soldiers, invaded our homes, and killed the people who wear that apparel, as well as those who sell it, manufacture it, or advocate it’s use? Reprehensible? Think about it.
That is a pretty far-fetched example, but it is the same thing that we are doing in other countries. Imposing our will, and morals on people who think and believe differently than we.
It’s time to stop. It’s time to no longer be the world’s police force. It’s time we stop being the moral leader, by imposing immoral principles against basically defenseless people. And if they are not defenseless, it is largely because we have armed them.
What other people do, is none of our business, unless it directly involves us on our own soil. We need to stop. Right now.
If the people of some country riot, it’s none of our business. Should we intervene? NO! It’s none of our business. Once we stop trying to change the world and force it to fit in our mold, things will settle down, and we will all be able to live in peace.
If a foreign power invades us, then it becomes our business. We have the means at hand to halt invaders. Otherwise, it is time for America to stop meddling in foreign affairs. They are none of our business.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wintertime Stuff
I am sitting at the desk in my computer room/office/ ham shack/studio/lair, thinking that I have not written on the ol’ blog for a long time. It’s still winter in Montana. As I write this, on Friday, February 25th, 2011, it is five below zero at 3:20 in the afternoon. I like winter, just not so much of it for so long at a time. It is beautiful though. The sun makes the snow just sparkle. I enjoy the sunrises. The snow changes color as it reflects the changing color of the sky. I have tried to photograph it, but with my current digital camera, it just doesn’t get the job done. Digital cameras are like that. Unless you have Photoshop to alter the images, they just can’t capture images like film. Maybe in the future, but not yet.
I finally found the box of photos in the basement. Some go back 35 - 40 years. Wow! The memories. I have a lot more pictures, but can’t seem to put my hands on them right now. Hope they’re not gone. I have lost so many things in moving over the years, that I can’t count them.
Here’s a picture of Bobby, who now calls himself Rob, playing in the back yard of the house on Valley Park Drive in Oxnard. He must have been about three. He is on all fours with a mouth full of grass. He was playing cow. Here is one of Virginia pushing Allan on a swing made of a rope and a log. I think he was about three at that time also.
Rob lives in Lockport New York, where he is happily married, and rearing a beautiful family. I don’t have much contact with him anymore. I hate that. So many losses due to poor choices on the part of yours truly back in the bad-old-days.
Allan is in the US Army. Right now, he is in Washington state, training to go overseas and kill people. I am so proud of him and his warrior spirit. I pray that God will watch over him, and that he will return without bullet holes, and in a sound mind.
I have been preaching huge sermons recently. Really deep stuff. What a blessing. For some time, I have been recording my sermons, or lessons, or whatever they are, and playing them back afterward, so I can hear them. Some of it is pretty good stuff, even to my critical ear. I don’t know how the congregation receives them, but I get a blessing. And the up side is, for the most part, I agree with what the preacher is saying. ;-)
I have been plowing the snow off of the driveway, which is about a quarter mile, give or take, long. The waterpump on “Fergie” the tractor has developed a leak. I ordered the replacement pump, a new thermostat, and a new temp. gauge, but I have been a little hesitant to install them. Hopefully, it will warm up a little soon, and I can get it done. We don’t have a garage, or shed, and sub zero temperatures are not conducive to making repairs on a Ferguson. If it becomes necessary, I will. Just hope that it doesn’t become necessary.
I am still working at KMTA/KYUS in Miles City three days a week, making commercials, and doing production. From time to time, I do work for them here at the house. I am able to do everything here that I can do at the station, and not have to drive 40 miles round trip.
Hmmmm. I just thought of it.... I’m living the dream. Moved to Montana from California, and am working from home at the computer, and making money at it. Yep! the dream is realized !!!!
Not much else new at Fringe Benefit Farm. Guess I’ll wrap this up, and head into the living room and watch NASCAR.
Agape
Lee
I finally found the box of photos in the basement. Some go back 35 - 40 years. Wow! The memories. I have a lot more pictures, but can’t seem to put my hands on them right now. Hope they’re not gone. I have lost so many things in moving over the years, that I can’t count them.
Here’s a picture of Bobby, who now calls himself Rob, playing in the back yard of the house on Valley Park Drive in Oxnard. He must have been about three. He is on all fours with a mouth full of grass. He was playing cow. Here is one of Virginia pushing Allan on a swing made of a rope and a log. I think he was about three at that time also.
Rob lives in Lockport New York, where he is happily married, and rearing a beautiful family. I don’t have much contact with him anymore. I hate that. So many losses due to poor choices on the part of yours truly back in the bad-old-days.
Allan is in the US Army. Right now, he is in Washington state, training to go overseas and kill people. I am so proud of him and his warrior spirit. I pray that God will watch over him, and that he will return without bullet holes, and in a sound mind.
I have been preaching huge sermons recently. Really deep stuff. What a blessing. For some time, I have been recording my sermons, or lessons, or whatever they are, and playing them back afterward, so I can hear them. Some of it is pretty good stuff, even to my critical ear. I don’t know how the congregation receives them, but I get a blessing. And the up side is, for the most part, I agree with what the preacher is saying. ;-)
I have been plowing the snow off of the driveway, which is about a quarter mile, give or take, long. The waterpump on “Fergie” the tractor has developed a leak. I ordered the replacement pump, a new thermostat, and a new temp. gauge, but I have been a little hesitant to install them. Hopefully, it will warm up a little soon, and I can get it done. We don’t have a garage, or shed, and sub zero temperatures are not conducive to making repairs on a Ferguson. If it becomes necessary, I will. Just hope that it doesn’t become necessary.
I am still working at KMTA/KYUS in Miles City three days a week, making commercials, and doing production. From time to time, I do work for them here at the house. I am able to do everything here that I can do at the station, and not have to drive 40 miles round trip.
Hmmmm. I just thought of it.... I’m living the dream. Moved to Montana from California, and am working from home at the computer, and making money at it. Yep! the dream is realized !!!!
Not much else new at Fringe Benefit Farm. Guess I’ll wrap this up, and head into the living room and watch NASCAR.
Agape
Lee
Sunday, December 5, 2010
I Only See The Heart
Kathryn and I went to Billings on Saturday to do some shopping. We had a nice time, got some great bargains, and had a nice oriental lunch.
I was wearing a Santa Claus cap with a button pinned on the front that reads “Jesus is the reason for the season.” I’ve had it for over 25 years, and have found it to be a wonderful witnessing tool.
We were standing in line waiting to check out at one of the stores, when I saw a little girl, probably about three years old looking at me. She tugged on her mama’s sleeve, got her attention and pointed at me. Her mom smiled, and I winked at her. The girl’s eyes got big, and she said to the mother, “It’s Santa!
Well, when one puts on the costume, one must play the role. So I put on my best Father Christmas voice, ho ho hoed and said, “Well, that looks like a good little girl.” The kid just beamed. The mother said, with a little twinkle in here eye, “Well, I don’t know about that.” I, still in the role, said. “Oh, mama, You know, I only see the heart.”
As a somewhat straight laced Christian, I don’t do Santa Claus. I don’t condemn those who do, that’s between them and God. It’s just that I don’t. I think the Santa Clause cap is not sending a mixed message, it is, after all, a witnessing tool.
But I could no more bring grief to that little child, who knows no better, than anything. I love little kids, with their innocence and wonder at the world too much for that.
I got to thinking, OK, people may teach their children that Santa may not forgive your trespasses, and bring a stocking full of ashes and switches, but Jesus forgives. All you have to do is ask. See, like Santa, Jesus only sees the heart.
Agape
Lee
I was wearing a Santa Claus cap with a button pinned on the front that reads “Jesus is the reason for the season.” I’ve had it for over 25 years, and have found it to be a wonderful witnessing tool.
We were standing in line waiting to check out at one of the stores, when I saw a little girl, probably about three years old looking at me. She tugged on her mama’s sleeve, got her attention and pointed at me. Her mom smiled, and I winked at her. The girl’s eyes got big, and she said to the mother, “It’s Santa!
Well, when one puts on the costume, one must play the role. So I put on my best Father Christmas voice, ho ho hoed and said, “Well, that looks like a good little girl.” The kid just beamed. The mother said, with a little twinkle in here eye, “Well, I don’t know about that.” I, still in the role, said. “Oh, mama, You know, I only see the heart.”
As a somewhat straight laced Christian, I don’t do Santa Claus. I don’t condemn those who do, that’s between them and God. It’s just that I don’t. I think the Santa Clause cap is not sending a mixed message, it is, after all, a witnessing tool.
But I could no more bring grief to that little child, who knows no better, than anything. I love little kids, with their innocence and wonder at the world too much for that.
I got to thinking, OK, people may teach their children that Santa may not forgive your trespasses, and bring a stocking full of ashes and switches, but Jesus forgives. All you have to do is ask. See, like Santa, Jesus only sees the heart.
Agape
Lee
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Rebuilding Walls
In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, Babylonian king Artaxerxes allowed some of the Jews who had been held captive to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, and do restorative work to the city.
The people banded together under Nehemiah to rebuild the damaged and broken wall around the city. They all worked together, and in a short time, had the wall back in place, repaired.
In Chapter three, verse 20, Baruch, son of Zabbai, Zealously repaired another section.
These people worked together, and separately to do this mighty task. One must remember that the stones of which the wall is made are very large. Some as big as a piano, some as large as an automobile. But they did it.
As an illustration, suppose the sidewalk on your block has fallen into disrepair. You, as a neighborhood, petition the city to repair it. So the city comes and tears it out. Then it says, “Here is the concrete, and material. Fix it, or it doesn’t get fixed.” So everybody on the block sets forms, and pours and smooths the concrete in front of their own house. Voila! The sidewalk on the whole block is re-paved. In some places it is better than others, and in some places the work has been done zealously.
The people put this wall around Jerusalem together. It was a damaged wall. In many places it was destroyed. And like our lives; Sometimes they are damaged. But through the grace of God, and through the repairing work that God has given us to do, and the methods that God has given us, through prayer, and meditation, through introspection, and these things, God has given us a way to repair our lives. Our Spiritual lives. If we have fallen away from The Lord, he has given us a means by which we can repair our own spiritual lives.
Sometimes we have done damage to our families. Usually unknowingly, we have said things and done things that have hurt the feelings of the people we love. He gives us an opportunity to repair those breaks in the walls of our relationships. But we have to do it.
He buys the concrete, but we have to put it down. We have to lay it. He gives us the directions how to do it, but we have to pick up the bricks and lay them in place. We have to put the mortar in place and see to it that the bricks are zealously laid, and all those bricks are aligned.
Sometimes when we start to rebuild our lives, the bricks are kind of uneven. But as we gain knowledge in God’s Word, and as we begin to grow in God’s Word, and as we begin to grow in grace and faith, the bricks of our repairs become smooth and straight, because God is in it.
That’s my message for today
The people banded together under Nehemiah to rebuild the damaged and broken wall around the city. They all worked together, and in a short time, had the wall back in place, repaired.
In Chapter three, verse 20, Baruch, son of Zabbai, Zealously repaired another section.
These people worked together, and separately to do this mighty task. One must remember that the stones of which the wall is made are very large. Some as big as a piano, some as large as an automobile. But they did it.
As an illustration, suppose the sidewalk on your block has fallen into disrepair. You, as a neighborhood, petition the city to repair it. So the city comes and tears it out. Then it says, “Here is the concrete, and material. Fix it, or it doesn’t get fixed.” So everybody on the block sets forms, and pours and smooths the concrete in front of their own house. Voila! The sidewalk on the whole block is re-paved. In some places it is better than others, and in some places the work has been done zealously.
The people put this wall around Jerusalem together. It was a damaged wall. In many places it was destroyed. And like our lives; Sometimes they are damaged. But through the grace of God, and through the repairing work that God has given us to do, and the methods that God has given us, through prayer, and meditation, through introspection, and these things, God has given us a way to repair our lives. Our Spiritual lives. If we have fallen away from The Lord, he has given us a means by which we can repair our own spiritual lives.
Sometimes we have done damage to our families. Usually unknowingly, we have said things and done things that have hurt the feelings of the people we love. He gives us an opportunity to repair those breaks in the walls of our relationships. But we have to do it.
He buys the concrete, but we have to put it down. We have to lay it. He gives us the directions how to do it, but we have to pick up the bricks and lay them in place. We have to put the mortar in place and see to it that the bricks are zealously laid, and all those bricks are aligned.
Sometimes when we start to rebuild our lives, the bricks are kind of uneven. But as we gain knowledge in God’s Word, and as we begin to grow in God’s Word, and as we begin to grow in grace and faith, the bricks of our repairs become smooth and straight, because God is in it.
That’s my message for today
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Random Thoughts On A Sunday Morning
It's been raining for a couple of days in southeastern Montana. I have been working in the harvest bringing crops in from the field.The ground has been so muddy, that we can't get into the fields, so I have had a couple of very welcome days off. When we finish cutting corn, I will move to the next farm over, and haul Sugar Beets from the field to a receiving station called a Piler. They are digging part of the crop early this year. I am glad that I am not there yet. They dig beets no matter what the weather. When the ground is muddy, they hook tractors on to the front of the trucks, and pull them through the field beside the digger, while it fills them. Very tense, stressful work.
I said I was glad to get a day off. I am pretty sore from driving that truck, because I ordinarily do a lick of real work, work. I mostly sit in front of a computer screen and type, or sit in front of a microphone and read aloud what I have written. - Pretty cush deal when I get work.- Of course I am still working at the radio station part-time, but am branching out into free lance operations too. I have put up a web site, leethevoice.com leethevoice.com It's not finished, but it is there for all the world to see.
Oh, yes, what I started to say. It has been raining. This morning it seems to be clearing. The sun shone between layers of clouds, illuminating the hills and buttes to the south and west. Sure was pretty.
Time to get my shirt and tie on, and go bring the message of love, peace, and forgiveness through The Lord Jesus. Truth be told, of all my activities, that's the one I love the best.
Agape
Lee
I said I was glad to get a day off. I am pretty sore from driving that truck, because I ordinarily do a lick of real work, work. I mostly sit in front of a computer screen and type, or sit in front of a microphone and read aloud what I have written. - Pretty cush deal when I get work.- Of course I am still working at the radio station part-time, but am branching out into free lance operations too. I have put up a web site, leethevoice.com leethevoice.com It's not finished, but it is there for all the world to see.
Oh, yes, what I started to say. It has been raining. This morning it seems to be clearing. The sun shone between layers of clouds, illuminating the hills and buttes to the south and west. Sure was pretty.
Time to get my shirt and tie on, and go bring the message of love, peace, and forgiveness through The Lord Jesus. Truth be told, of all my activities, that's the one I love the best.
Agape
Lee
Saturday, September 11, 2010
9-11
Nine years ago I walked in to work at KATL in Miles City. I was still doing production, before I took over the News Director slot. Terry Virag ace salesman, and morning personality, was in the control room. "Did you hear? They've bombed the World Trade Center in New York!"
Someone had brought in a television. It was showing the chaos in the streets and smoke and flames pouring from the burning building. In unbelief, I, and millions of people around the world watched as the second airplane hit the second tower. I will never forget that day. It is burned into my memory as with a hot iron.
I will never forget those thousands of innocent people murdered by cowardly animals who in spite of the lies they've been fed by insane leaders, are burning in Hell at this very moment. May it always be so.
I will never forget those firefighters and police officers who gave their lives in service to their city, their state, their nation, and their fellow man. Those are the heroes. Those and the thousands of those who stand ready to protect us from fire, flood, pestilence, and evil doers, both foreign and domestic. You are those to whom I stand, humbly tip my hat, and say, Thank you. I will never forget.
Agape
Lee
Someone had brought in a television. It was showing the chaos in the streets and smoke and flames pouring from the burning building. In unbelief, I, and millions of people around the world watched as the second airplane hit the second tower. I will never forget that day. It is burned into my memory as with a hot iron.
I will never forget those thousands of innocent people murdered by cowardly animals who in spite of the lies they've been fed by insane leaders, are burning in Hell at this very moment. May it always be so.
I will never forget those firefighters and police officers who gave their lives in service to their city, their state, their nation, and their fellow man. Those are the heroes. Those and the thousands of those who stand ready to protect us from fire, flood, pestilence, and evil doers, both foreign and domestic. You are those to whom I stand, humbly tip my hat, and say, Thank you. I will never forget.
Agape
Lee
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
