Below is a comment I received from Bill H…team member at Standing Tall in reference to my piece on Feminism…”F” is for Failure.

All can Bill…is, “You Go Boy”! You keep being the gentleman…who does the right thing. If that means some women just don’t get it…and think you are a Neanderthal…then so be it. Some people will never get it…and that’s okay. While frustrating, annoying and sometimes down right obnoxious…it doesn’t matter.

All that counts is doing the right thing. And never more so than for godly Christian and Jewish men. I am one women that sees it…applauds it and says thank you! Be sure to check out Bill and Martin’s site at Standing Tall. My early preview of this site…is a thumbs up!

“From a mans perspective Wow, you hit the nail on the head as the saying goes!The equal ness between the sexes has indeed caused disrespect for woman from the younger generations. I see this everyday when boys do not open doors for their girlfriends any longer the list goes on.Thanks for putting it out there, makes me fell a little better after having been called a Neanderthal because I opened a door for a lady a few months back! She was so mad I was blessed with her articulate expression of the English language for about ten minutes afterwards!That very same day i was asked to move some office items because I was the only male in the office. Talk about confusing messages.Thanks again, it is good to know that chivalry can still be a good thing.”

Snowy Delight Fills My Senses

One of the delights in blogging is finding the treasures and jewels on other websites.

One of my favorite places to visit is David Fisher’s Pilgrim Scribblings. Not only do I find his pieces that inspire and encourage me in my Christian walk…but I also find links to other great websites. Some how David scouts them out and shares so freely.

Tonight while visiting David’s website I found an addition to his recent postings on Attractive Drabness. It’s a series of pictures that capture you and draw you in. They are seemingly drab at first appearance…but they are lovely to behold.

The picture I discovered tonight was from Michelle’s website called Mikao’s World. I have marked this site as a favorite and will visit regularly.

Michelle is sharing pictures from the first snow fall where she lives in Canada. All I can say is, “Wow”!

You see…I’m a California girl…misplanted. I love snow and winter. Born in Colorado…and I think it’s in my blood. Today in Southern California…we had a sunny lovely day in the 80’s. You can’t ask for better. But golly…seeing the snow pictures from Canada…just fill my senses.

Thank you Michelle and David for sharing from the abundance of your wealth.

How Feminism Made the World a Worse Place

For some time now…I’ve wanted to tackle this subject….it’s been ruminating around my mind for quite a while. My contempt builds as I see examples each day on how feminism has not only failed…but in fact, has made the world a worse place. Worse for women, for our children and for men.

After listening to Dennis Prager’s interview of reformed feminist Phyllis Chesler my desire to write this piece was resurrected. It’s a good thing that I waited. If I hadn’t…I’m afraid it would have merely been chock full of anger and ugly words. As it is…my passion remains…but I hope to present with clarity the some of the reasons for my contempt.

I’m forty-six years old…and grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. When I think back to my first impressions of feminists…the first thing that comes to mind is equal pay for equal work. There was the idea that a girl should be allowed to choose to study whatever she wants and pursue a career in her chosen field. Now those are admirable and good goals. Goals that most folks would support whole heartedly.

I am very successful in my career…I love my job and the work that I do. In part I can thank feminists of the past, for the opportunities I’ve had to pursue the work I love. Yet, I would give it all up tomorrow…with no regrets…for the right man.

The destructive forces that were unleashed with feminism…have overwhelmed any seeming benefit. The devastation is widespread. The very people whom feminists proclaim they want to help…have been harmed the most.

Let’s start with “free love”…which bottom line means have free sex with whomever you want, whenever you want, as much you want. Hummmm….what a thought!

Like everything in life…it’s has consequences. What are the consequences of “free love” and unlimited sex? How about sexually transmitted disease? How does 19 million new cases each year sound? Half those infections are in kids ranging from 15 to 24 years old. Let’s not forget infertility as a result of STD’s and it may also result in birth defects or even death to the babies.

And then there is the mother of all STD’s…AID’s…Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Not too many years ago…it was a certain death sentence. Now thanks to modern medicine…death from this disease has been delayed. But it still remains.

Who can talk about feminism…and not broach the subject of abortion. Those good old “reproductive rights”. (Whatever happened to reproductive responsibility?) Of course the argument that’s always meant to silence the critics is, “you big bad bullies, making a poor defenseless woman have to carry and give birth to a baby, when she was raped or the victim of incest.”

With the way this argument is bandied about…you would think that 90% of all abortions are the result of some type of sexual assault or abuse. When in fact, the vast majority are nothing more than costly, after the fact, birth control. Making an innocent human being pay the death penalty…because they are an inconvenience to their prospective mother.

How do you like the sound of over 1,000,000 abortions each year in the United States?

Just for the record feminists…half those persons being killed are female. Don’t forget…it was women you were aiming to help. I guess the only woman that counts is the one outside the womb…and as long as she is wanted by her mother. After all, that is the only thing that gives that baby worth (according to you)…and keeps it from being swept down a sink.

To prove that abortion is not about rape and incest…ask yourself what would the feminists do, if tomorrow Christians were to agree to stop their battle and allow abortions for any woman who was the victim or rape or incest…but outlaw all other abortions? Do you even remotely think that feminists and leftists would not agree to that? Not in a million years…I would safely bet everything I have on that.

STD’s and abortions don’t even begin to touch the emotional and spiritual toll or consequences of these behaviors and actions run amuck.

Now we have videos of “girls gone wild”…ripping of their tops for the camera. Let’s not forget our young girls emulating our dear former President and his intern. They are performing oral sex on boys…and not even thinking its sex. Feminists…I thought you didn’t want women to be sex objects? But what you started…has lead to this.

The harm you’ve done is not limited women…it’s deeply effected our boys and men. Who in society can you bash so freely and openly, and treat with such utter contempt as men? You have license to do and say whatever you want about men, without any repercussion.

What’s ironic…is that if men turned around say the same things about women…you would be screaming bloody murder. You hypocrites!

You bash men like there’s no tomorrow. You have no respect for them and you treat them with utter contempt. Is that how you want your sons to be treated? Do you not even love them enough to want them to be loved and cherished for the precious boys and men that they are? Women…what is the matter with you? You are sick in your soul.

It’s everywhere…it is so deeply seeped into society…that you can’t turn on a TV show or pick up a paper and not see ugly consequences of feminism and it’s far reaching effects.

In something as simple as a TV commercial the “feminist effect” comes shining through. Adelphia has commercial running now advertising their new DVR system. The ad features a woman telling us that her dumb boyfriend suggested that she record the shows she wants to watch…so she won’t miss them. In the commercial…she bashes the boyfriend…of course she’s obviously superior, to this dumb inferior schmuck. Not to be missed is unspoken reference that they are living together…not married.

You know I clearly remember a time…when it was considered wrong by society to be “living in sin”. But now days…it’s a sin no longer. It’s widely and broadly accepted…and nary a word is spoken that it’s wrong.

Now maybe it’s because I’m a Christian that I still haven’t abandoned those values. My moral compass is still intact, thanks to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit within me.

I stand amazed at the intellectual dishonesty and foolishness of feminists and leftists who fail to see the flaws and failings of their own arguments. They want a woman to be paid the same as a man for the same work. But they have to dumb down and lower the standards for women to get the job.

Fire fighters, police officers and military come to mind. Am I saying that women should not pursue these careers. No…but let’s get real. Don’t lower the standard. Do you want your husband, son or brother working alongside women…their lives at greater risk…because the standard had to be lowered, so the woman could get the job?

And then one of my favorite lines of the feminists, is the argument that men and women are the same. This one is almost laughable and defies common sense and reality. There comes a point where you have to ask if you can even reason with people who are in such denial.

Now to personalize this. Daily I come in contact with men who are confused or uncertain if they should do the simple considerate act of holding a door open for me or other women. It’s not brain surgery…but it’s a simple act that shows respect and esteem for women. Men have been given such a ration of garbage for what is really a loving and caring act. No wonder they are confused, or angry…or just plain don’t respect women any longer.

But it crushes my spirit when a guy won’t extend the courtesy of this simple act. I feel less than feminine, very unworthy…and bottom line, it hurts. At the same time…I don’t necessarily blame the guy. I hold feminists accountable on this one.

My greatest wish, hope, dream and prayer is to be married. But I’m not. I can’t help but think that in our society…my chances of getting married are greatly reduced…in part because of what the feminists have done.

Why would a guy want to get married, when he can go out and have sex with as many women as he wants, as much as he wants, any time he wants…with no commitment or responsibility? Not a lot of guys would. Or to be more accurate…not enough men do commit and get married these days.

While somewhat crude…I do feel the old adage is true…why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free?

There are men out there…that have gone against their male nature and made a choice to be committed to one woman. To sacrifice and have children…and raise them up in godly households.

But thanks to you dear feminists…I and many millions of other women are paying price of your selfish pursuits. I hold you in contempt for the harm you have done and the price too many people…both women and men…have paid.

Feminists…you failed in the most important areas of life…and the world is worse because of it!

One of the most well reasoned and coherent thinkers today is Dennis Prager. Overwhelmingly…I concur with his arguments and interpretation of events. Dennis states his position eloquently and concisely…and always strives for clarity. Below is his most recent article published in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times. Also be sure to check out Dennis Prager’s website…and find out where you can listen to Dennis in your area.

By Dennis Prager, Dennis Prager’s nationally syndicated radio show is heard daily in Los Angeles on KRLA-AM (870). He may be contacted through his website: www.dennisprager.com.

THE RIOTING IN France by primarily Muslim youths and the hotel bombings in Jordan are the latest events to prompt sincere questions that law-abiding Muslims need to answer for Islam’s sake, as well as for the sake of worried non-Muslims. Here are five of them:

1) Why are you so quiet?

Since the first Israelis were targeted for death by Muslim terrorists blowing themselves up in the name of your religion and Palestinian nationalism, I have been praying to see Muslim demonstrations against these atrocities. Last week’s protests in Jordan against the bombings, while welcome, were a rarity. What I have seen more often is mainstream Muslim spokesmen implicitly defending this terror on the grounds that Israel occupies Palestinian lands. We see torture and murder in the name of Allah, but we see no anti-torture and anti-murder demonstrations in the name of Allah.

There are a billion Muslims in the world. How is it possible that essentially none have demonstrated against evils perpetrated by Muslims in the name of Islam? This is true even of the millions of Muslims living in free Western societies. What are non-Muslims of goodwill supposed to conclude? When the Israeli government did not stop a Lebanese massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and Chatilla refugee camps in Lebanon in 1982, great crowds of Israeli Jews gathered to protest their country’s moral failing. Why has there been no comparable public demonstration by Palestinians or other Muslims to morally condemn Palestinian or other Muslim-committed terror?

(2) Why are none of the Palestinian terrorists Christian?

If Israeli occupation is the reason for Muslim terror in Israel, why do no Christian Palestinians engage in terror? They are just as nationalistic and just as occupied as Muslim Palestinians.

(3) Why is only one of the 47 Muslim-majority countries a free country?

According to Freedom House, a Washington-based group that promotes democracy, of the world’s 47 Muslim countries, only Mali is free. Sixty percent are not free, and 38% are partly free. Muslim-majority states account for a majority of the world’s “not free” states. And of the 10 “worst of the worst,” seven are Islamic states. Why is this?

(4) Why are so many atrocities committed and threatened by Muslims in the name of Islam?

Young girls in Indonesia were recently beheaded by Muslim murderers. Last year, Muslims — in the name of Islam — murdered hundreds of schoolchildren in Russia. While reciting Muslim prayers, Islamic terrorists take foreigners working to make Iraq free and slaughter them. Muslim daughters are murdered by their own families in the thousands in “honor killings.” And the Muslim government in Iran has publicly called for the extermination of Israel.

(5) Why do countries governed by religious Muslims persecute other religions?

No church or synagogue is allowed in Saudi Arabia. The Taliban destroyed some of the greatest sculptures of the ancient world because they were Buddhist. Sudan’s Islamic regime has murdered great numbers of Christians.

Instead of confronting these problems, too many of you deny them. Muslims call my radio show to tell me that even speaking of Muslim or Islamic terrorists is wrong. After all, they argue, Timothy McVeigh is never labeled a “Christian terrorist.” As if McVeigh committed his terror as a churchgoing Christian and in the name of Christ, and as if there were Christian-based terror groups around the world.

As a member of the media for nearly 25 years, I have a long record of reaching out to Muslims. Muslim leaders have invited me to speak at major mosques. In addition, I have studied Arabic and Islam, have visited most Arab and many other Muslim countries and conducted interfaith dialogues with Muslims in the United Arab Emirates as well as in the U.S. Politically, I have supported creation of a Palestinian state and supported (mistakenly, I now believe) the Oslo accords.

Hundreds of millions of non-Muslims want honest answers to these questions, even if the only answer you offer is, “Yes, we have real problems in Islam.” Such an acknowledgment is infinitely better — for you and for the world — than dismissing us as anti-Muslim.

We await your response.

Okay…so God is never going to accuse me of having a great unfailing memory and trust in His Word…in the midst of the battle. Well at least not yet.

I tell you there are days when God must just rest head against his hand say, “Susan, dear, when are you going to get it? When are you going to understand that you can trust me? What’s it going to take?

I admit it…I’m a slow learner. Hopefully…a wee bit better each year, month or day than the one before. But it’s a very good thing that God is patient…infinitely patient.

This last week…was another trying week. One in which I felt overwhelmed the pressing daily demands, deadlines and challenging people. I felt wholly inadequate to meet or keep up with the mounting demands. Seemingly something at every turn kept popping up and nothing much was working out smoothly. I was in need of quiet so I could concentrate and attempt to get things done. But quiet was rather elusive.

So instead of being composed and trusting God and his timing…I became quite cranky and annoyed. Yeah…a real good witness to the Christian life? Un uh, yeah. Right.

When it became very apparent…to even the slower learner that I am…I was unable to handle on my own power…I decided to call in the Cavalry. I fired off a prayer request to the faithful members of Kindred’s Prayer Team.

Shortly thereafter…while taking my morning walk…God brought to my memory reminders on who He is, His character…and why I can trust that He is faithful.

The same God who parted the Red Sea…so that the Jews could pass safely through…is the same God whom I worship and place my trust in.

He is the same God who stopped the sun it’s path…as Joshua and the Israeli’s fought the Amorites. He is the same God who sees my troubles and is there along side me.

Can I really say that my tiny, little problems are too much for the God who created the universe and all that it contains?

The same God who by His power…raised Jesus Christ from the dead…is my God.

If God…can create a whole universe and fill it with His creation…by merely speaking a word…can’t He manage my little problems? Is anything too big for my God?

You see, He has promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. He is able to do abundantly more than all I ask imagine.

Now if only…I will remember…to handle all my difficulties with prayer.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years – Genesis 1:14

In Southern California…you don’t usually find too much of anything that resembles autumn. Thus…it pays to keep your camera right handy. So when you encounter…something wonderful from God’s creation…you can preserve that memory. Snapped this photo on one of my morning walks…around my home. Autumn is one of my favorite times of year.

They say confession is “good for the soul”…and indeed it is. So time for a little true confession on my part.

Recently…I was bubbling over…with my mind trying to work through a number things…going on with myself, family and friends. I love to write…thus, this blog. It’s the way I work through issues…put on paper what I’m thinking, work through the issues and even get a different perspective. I’m able to work through the heat of the moment…when I’m angry or sad or depressed or grieving…and have clarity and balance.

So with all sorts of “stuff” going on…I wanted to write. But I knew if I was going to use some of these very personal happenings, I couldn’t post it on my blog. After all, I have friends and family that visit here. So I got this brilliant idea to start an alternate blog…unrelated to this one. Someplace where I could be anonymous…but work through my feelings and ideas.

I was still approaching it with a Christian perspective…it contained nothing ugly, illicit, illegal or tawdry. But at the same time…it was a place where I wouldn’t feel comfortable having the people that know me read about my emotions, thoughts and opinions.

The funny thing is…I had it in my mind…I was going to be open and transparent. Yet…I was going to remain anonymous. Now that doesn’t quite jive, does it?

No…and now for those of you who are Christians…you know exactly what I mean when I say…I was feeling the pressure of the Holy Spirit. Trust me…He doesn’t let me get away with anything for long. So he reined me in…and rightfully so.

What did I learn? Well…if I’m going to say something…I need to have the courage to stand behind my convictions. Whatever I’m mulling over about someone else’s life…I need to examine it and apply the lesson to my own life…and see where I might be guilty of the same.

When writing…if I don’t want to repel my audience…I need to be diplomatic. Not politically correct or fake…but winsome and attractive. Now for those that know me…you are probably saying, “Yeah, right!” Susan, winsome and attractive…I don’t think so. She’s more likely to take whack at you than be polite…and to a certain degree you are correct.

But with writing…unless I’m intentionally trying to be provocative…I do have to aim to be well reasoned and not completely turn someone off at the start. Writing is a good discipline.

Then of course…maybe some of the stuff I want to say…needs to be private. And only shared with someone with whom I’m close and loves me.

Like I said…the Holy Spirit reined me in…and I deleted that blog.

I may approach some of those subjects here…but I’ll have to work through the issues and apply them to my own life…and use my flaws and failings as an example. Not use the examples that I see in others.

Does that mean I won’t ever take a whack…or be very pointed in my writing? Don’t even go there…that ain’t gonna happen. When you read this blog…this is pretty much the real me. I bare my heart, soul and emotions…on things personal, political, religious…and world events. That’s not going to change.

But at the same time…I am more keenly aware that as much as I think this blog is my space…it’s also God’s. It’s a place where I am responsible and accountable to Him. I’m most grateful for my ability to read and write…and express myself. But I need to be under the control of the Holy Spirit when doing so.

Now the last couple of weeks have been outrageously out of control…and busy doesn’t even come close to describing it. In about a week…things should calm down a bit…and I will be writing more. Until then I hope to squeeze in a little bit. I miss this wonderful outlet when I’m not taking pen to paper…or more accurately…fingertips to keyboard.

In the last month…I’ve heard a new concept that I don’t recall hearing before. It seems like when God wants to reinforce a message he does so quite handily…usually through repetition. I first heard it at Bible Study Fellowship and then again with Gordon Kirk…one our guest Pastors speaking at Kindred Community Church.

This concept is one of having a high view of God and a low view of man. Contrast that, with having a high view of man and a low view of God. When you think about it…your view and understanding about God and who he is will impact every area of your life.

I’m trying to digest this concept…and incorporate it into my life and my way of thinking. Let me first state unequivocally that I can state like Paul…I am chief among sinners. In fact I think I may be able to easily unseat him in that category. So as I work through my understanding of this…know that I am keenly aware of my fallen state.

I can also look around and see how having an incorrect understanding and perspective of God, will impact what decisions I make. When I look at in my own life, and examples in the lives of friends and family I am amply warned on the importance of having a balanced and right concept about God.

Yet, I need look no further than the Bible for examples on having a low view of God. In Genesis we see Eve and Adam choosing to disobey God’s command to not eat the fruit from the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil”.

Genesis 3:16 – 17 – And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

When the serpent temped Eve, he first cast doubt on God’s Word, asking “did God really say”?

After Eve explained Gods command and the resulting consequence if they failed to obey, the serpent made God out to be a liar who wanted to withhold good and desirable things from Adam and Eve.

Genesis 3:4 – 5 – 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Here we can see having a high view of man and low view of God in action. Eve in her desire to become like God by attaining knowledge of good and evil raises herself up, and lowers God.

It’s ironic that in her quest to become like God, Eve instead becomes less like God. At that point, her nature has been changed and she is a sinner. As a result…she will also drink of the bitter cup of death. Immediately a spiritual death or separation from God. Later a physical death…as sin takes its toll and decay, death and destruction rein.

Eve temped Adam to also eat of the fruit. Adam also demonstrates a low view of God…by listening to Eve instead of obeying God’s command.

Now it didn’t take long for sin to rein supreme in man. Cain and Able, the first generation from Adam and Eve, had the first murder. Cain sought to go to God and bring him an offering of his choosing, not what was pleasing to God. When Able’s offering was pleasing and acceptable to God…Cain was angry and downcast.

God went to Cain and encouraged him to do what was right and also warned him about going down the road of anger. But Cain chose to listen to his own feelings…and that resulted in Cain committing the first act of murder.

When God confronted Cain…he was concerned about how the consequences of his sin would effect him, rather than repenting before a holy, righteous and just God.

Not too many generations after this…God found mankind to be so sinful that he found it better to wipe out all human and animal life, except Noah, his family and the animals on the ark. Despite this relatively fresh start…man’s sinful nature has continued it’s course.

It is only by receiving a new nature, when we are born again, that we can begin to obey God. We are told that we must put on our new self and conversely put off our old nature.

Like I said earlier…I am chief among sinners. Unlike Paul…I could not say with confidence follow my example as I follow Christ.

It is not until we die and are completely transformed that we will be able sin no longer. However it is the Word of God that can change us and transform us. Paul tells that the Word of God washes and cleanses us. That is why it is so critical to be reading God’s word and putting in your heart and mind daily.

Be ye transformed: Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Duane…I call your five yard penalty…and raise you ten.

Now that Duane Patterson, producer of the Hughbo Baggins Show (AKA Hugh Hewitt) is just plain feisty. Penalizing me for my Lord of the Rings, ever so clever usage.

“The Susan Blog is taking issue with Hugh’s Get the Band Back together meme. Susan thinks she never left, although she should get a five yard penalty for illegal use of Lord of the Rings usage.”

For trying to stifle my creative streak…I raise you ten…and throw in a Star Wars reference. You will hereby be known as Darth Patterson, not quite a Sith Lord…but an underling.

So take that Darth Patterson!

Just for record Hughbo Baggins…we never left the band!

Following Harriet Miers’ withdrawal of her nomination for Supreme Court Justice you began the mantra, “Let’s bring the band back together.”

I want it on the record Hugh…true conservatives never left the band.

Instead our Producer George W. Bush…and a few supporters (very few) found a new lead singer in an unusual place. He had a warm fuzzy feeling…and based on hearing her sing a few songs around the camp fire…and he thought she’d be swell. Rather than going with a known commodity…someone who had already written a few hit songs…and won a few Grammy Awards…he went someone with whom he had toasted a few marshmallows.

Amazingly enough…our Producer was able to convince a few others…including yourself to support his rather questionable choice.

Other band members were saying, “Slow down Mr. Producer…we don’t even know if she can hold a tune.” But he kept assuring us, “Trust me.”

Now Hugh…I’m a true conservative. That means that while I’m a registered Republican…when the party messes up, goes down the wrong road or has a double standard…I will be among the first to call it, like it is.

The fact I’m in line with some of our uglier party members like Ann Coulter…makes me a little squeamish. Nevertheless, I’m going to stick to my guns.

Hugh…glad to have you back in the band again. But truly, you were more than obnoxious for a few weeks there. Now if you need to get back on those meds to keep your obsessive compulsive tendencies in line…get that prescription filled.

Please…let’s not go down that road again! Let’s stay the course.

Genesis 8:1 – “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.”

This last week was a very difficult one. One that by the end of the week, I was saying “That’s it! I’m over, I’m out, I’m done, I’ finished…I can’t take it anymore. Finito!” I wanted to step aside…and let another run the next leg of the race.

The only problem was…no one else was volunteering to do so. Surely not through will power…but momentum, I kept plugging away.

While not quite as downcast…my mood was not going to win any power of positive thinking award today. But my one saving grace was that I had my Bible Study Fellowship lesson to complete.

This week we are studying about Noah…Genesis 6 – 8. The passage that stood out to me most was Genesis 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.”

This week I felt like the waters had overwhelmed me…and I had been forgotten by God. I cried out…but there was only quite…no reply and no relief forthcoming.

But thank goodness for the Word of God…to remind me about who He is. Our God, who is ever faithful and unchanging. In John 1:1…we learn that Jesus was the Word, and was with God the Father in the beginning, and was God. Our triune God…Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

That same God, who remembered Noah, has remembered me.

Think about what a scary and uncertain time this was for Noah and his family. They alone, along with the animals on the ark, remained. For the first time ever it had rained…and the waters of the deep poured forth and the earth was covered with water. All people, but eight whom God had saved, were killed in the flood. The Bible tells us in Genesis 6:8 that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

God has had mercy upon me, and through his grace saved me. He will not forsake me, nor forget me, nor leave me helpless. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that God will never leave us, nor forsake us.

Now if go by my feelings…I wouldn’t grasp that, know and trust that God cares for me…even when circumstances seem quite overwhelming.

But when I place my trust in God, and in His Word…I can rest assured that he has not forsaken me. Instead like, Noah, He remembered me. He is at work and soon the waters will be receding.

When God remembered Noah (actually, He had never forgotten him)…he started a work and the waters would soon recede. But it took…150 days before that was evident.

Like Noah…the waters that have swamped me will recede. Whether perceptible at the moment…or veiled…my God is at work. He has a plan and purpose that He is working out.

Do I still have moments of doubt? You bet ya! But one thing I’ve found helpful in those dark and discouraging times…is to give thanks to God. Thank him for that which he has provided. Give thanks for who He is.

Through thanksgiving and praise…I am able to remind myself that God exists and God cares…He is there and has provided. In those times…that’s when it pays to know the Word of God. Before you are in those difficult times…not after.

So I thank you Jesus for remembering me. I thank you that you have sent a wind…and the waters that have swamped me will soon recede.

Today…I had super extra mega stinkiefied day…to the n’th degree. Now I’m not able to, nor do I want to, go into the gory ugly details of this day. I already lived it…and that was bad enough. It just was dog gone ugly. Uhhhhhh!

It was filled to the brim in dealing with people that leave you muttering to yourself, as you walk away…or hang up the phone…saying one of the following:

“Gee wiz, these folks must have done some heavy duty drugs in the 60’s.”

Or, “They must have dropped some serious acid…cause something ain’t quite working right in their gray matter.”

Or how about, “You can’t be that stupid naturally, it has to be supplemented.”

Giving them the benefit of the doubt with, “I think their mom must have dropped them on their head when they were a baby…that kind of thinking just has to be caused by something.”

The other thing that was apparent after this day…or should I more accurately say this week…is that the indelible imprint of a lawyer’s hands all over it. Mucking things up, as usual.
Now I’ve always had a fondness for lawyer jokes. Lawyers are so universally held in low esteem and poorly regarded…and it’s usually well deserved and even well earned.

So in my efforts to mend from this wretched day…thought I’d throw out a few lawyer jokes…to bring a smile to my lips and perhaps even an ironic chuckle. So here are a few of my favorite lawyer jokes:

What do you say about a 1,000 dead lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?
It’s a good start.

What’s the difference between a dead rattle snake in the middle of the road and a dead lawyer in the middle of the road?
There are skid marks in front of the snake.

What’s the difference between a carp and a lawyer?
One’s a scum sucking, low life bottom dweller and the other is a fish.

Now I invite you to participate…help me feel better. Or even release some your own stress over the ridiculous, nonsense that you encounter every day. Things that are made worse because of lawyers. So…if you have good lawyer joke…now keep it clean…click on the comments link below and share your favorite lawyer joke.

Thank you ever so. You are too kind!

One of the things that give daily thanks for is Bible Study Fellowship. I’m thankful to be in this study that helps me to do what I don’t do on my own…and that is to diligently study the Word of God. This year…we are studying the book of Genesis.

I was in this study six or seven years ago…and even though it’s a repeat for me…it’s wonderful. I’m in a different place in my life now and hopefully I can say with accuracy that I have grown in my Bible knowledge…and more importantly, the application of God’s Word in my personal life.

This year…we have a new Teaching Leader in our class, Terri. She is terrific. She’s got an excitement for the Word of God, challenges you and helps you to apply it so you will continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge, and walk in a manner that is pleasing to God. Terri diligently studies and prepares for her lecture each week…and willingly shares the nuggets she’s discovered during her journey.

One of things I’m mindful of this year especially…is how transforming the Word of God is. When I look at people whom I most admire…I see how much God’s Word helped transform their lives. It’s wonderful to see…and makes me hunger and thirst for God’s Word and for Him to do a similar work in my own life.

2005 is going to go down in my personal history as a year of great challenges and great losses. Among which are deaths of people important in my life. Three of them were Christian men strong in their faith. Not only in the day to day battle and how they lived their lives…but demonstrated more dramatically as they faced sickness and death.

When I think of it…I really haven’t lost these precious men…I’ll be catching up with them in heaven. I have absolutely confidence I know where they are…and that I will one day see them again. Not based on my own righteousness…but that given to me through faith in Jesus Christ my Lord. At that time…those things that make human relationships a challenge down here…will no longer be an issue…as we will have been transformed and given a new sinless nature.

My confidence in their salvation and my own…is made stronger when I hear wonderful stories like the one that Terri shared about Evangelist DL Moody’s last words on his death bed:

Thursday, December 21, 1899, after cutting short a Kansas City crusade and returning home in ill health, D. L. Moody told his family, “I’m not discouraged. I want to live as long as I am useful, but when my work is done I want to be up and off.” The next day Moody awakened after a restless night. In careful, measured words he said, “Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me!” His son, Will, concluded his father was dreaming. “No, this is no dream, Will. It is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.”

When you read those words from DL Moody can you likewise say that, “If this is death, it is sweet.”? Make sure you know with confidence, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” – Colossians 2:5.

Dear Chuck,
Missing you something fierce today,
Someone stood in the pulpit,
But your shadow remains.

It’s been thirty-five days,
Since you went to your great reward,
Forty-two since we heard the Word God,
Preached boldly from your lips.

How long will it be,
Until I stop counting the days?
How long will it be,
Until I sing praise once again, with my eyes open?

I hunger and thirst,
For expository preaching,
Long for sermons that challenge me,
Hold me accountable, my feet to the fire.

My dear Pastor,
My heart feels pierced.
Tears fill my eyes, and even overflow,
As I behold another, standing in your place.

How long will it be,
Until I no longer hold up the pattern.
Expecting the next man called,
To measure up to your legacy?

I look to the Lord,
Searching the Word of God,
My hurting heart cries out,
Receives comfort from my precious Savior.

Dear Pastor,
Missing you something fierce today,
But grateful to God,
For having loved you so well.

Still feeling the passing of my beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski something fierce. Keenly aware of his absence…somedays more intensely than others. All the while turning to God…and being comforted in my grief.

I don’t usually watch too much TV. If it’s on…it’s usually just background noise while I’m working around my home. For example…while blogging or getting ready for work in the morning I have the television on. More often than not…it’s on Fox News. Not just because I love politics and want to keep abreast of what’s going on in the world…but also the pickins are slim on good, quality television programming these days.

When I do get brave and put on a television show…unless it’s one I know from passed experience…that can be trusted, I keep my remote right handy. It’s close at hand, just in case I need to avert my eyes from the latest offensive material Hollywood is trying to pass off as entertainment or drama these days.

Now were talking some pretty sick stuff. Shows that you would swear came from the diaries of the BTK killer or Ted Bundy. Scenes of people doing wretched and awful things to one another in bloody and gory detail…brought to you, up close and personal in your home. And those images…don’t go away when you turn off the TV or change the channel. They are seared in you mind…for you to recall any time.

Case in point is Law & Order Criminal Intent. Last Sunday evening…and rerun again tonight the episode entitled “Unchained” came on. It starts out with a couple of guys standing on a boat or a dock. They are proceeding terrorize a man before they brutally kill him by tying him to an anchor and dropping it into the river. Of course he’s bound and can not free himself…all the while the chain is running out and will soon take him overboard to his death. And he’s not going quietly.

Like I said earlier…I can’t keep the remote close enough. Because I was in the middle of doing other things while the TV is on…I couldn’t get to the remote quick enough to not have the above image assault me.

Even just a few years ago…I really liked Law & Order…and some of the spin offs, Criminal Intent and SVU. I’ve always loved mysteries…so CSI was another program that drew me in, at first. But in what seems like a short period of time…these shows have become nothing more than offensive. In a very real way…it’s the spiritual equivalent of pollution…soul pollution.

I like a good drama or comedy…but what’s coming out now and passing as acceptable entertainment is nothing short of sick. Because the production quality of the programs and the acting is so good…it’s distracts you from the fact that the story is very poorly written, and often chock full of liberal, leftist propaganda. Every once and while the program may be well written…and reflective of a very sick and troubled mind.

Webster’s has a fitting description: a : mentally or emotionally unsound or disordered : MORBID b : MACABRE, SADISTIC . Yep…that is a very apt description of what’s on TV these days.

When I see these programs…what comes to mind is the passage in Romans 1:28-32:

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

When you read that description…doesn’t it accurately capture what our society is like today? It captures everything from real life and the people we know and interact with, to the television shows and movies we watch…to the books and magazines we read…and it even winds it’s way into music.

So what’s a person to do? One who still likes some TV or movies? Well with cable…they actually have a few channels out there that have some quality programming, as long as you can brave the indecent and offensive commercials. One good development is all the good old TV shows or movies are coming out on DVD now. So at least we have some good alternatives.

Of course…one of my favorite options is radio…talk radio…with the likes of Dennis Prager, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, Larry Elder and Sean Hannity. So there are a few good choices, for those seeking good entertainment or information.

Now if I was really wise…I’d turn it off all together and dive into the Word of God…and engage in and develop relationships with loved ones and friends. The question is…am I wise? Not always…but there is hope…and the Holy Spirit working away on special project, namely me.

Robert Byers from Watchman’s Word posted the following comments responding to my post, “Conflicted”: “It may be true that the President, even with 55 Republicans in the Senate could not get a true conservative through confirmation. But we’ll never know because he didn’t try. And to make matters worse, part of the reason he can’t count on the “wobblies” is that he campaigned for Specter against a conservative in the primary. Now people like Hugh would say that’s a good thing, because Toomey couldn’t win (although again, we don’t know because we didn’t try). But regardless, Bush’s action emboldened the liberal Republicans to go their own way. If there are no consequences for crossing the party and the leadership, why not?”

Robert…first let me state that I concur with you that we may never know if we could have gotten a true conservative through…because President Bush didn’t try. I was so angry it took me almost two weeks before I could compose a pointed but civil, respectful response. Even now…when I hear the various commentators addressing the Harriet Mier’s nomination…I start to get annoyed all over again.

President Bush nominating Miss Miers was wrong on so many levels. I can hardly believe the Bush’s advisers thought it was a good idea and gave their blessing. Their lack of enthusiasm was evident in Vice President Cheney’s tepid nod of approval to Miss Miers.

Frankly I’m puzzled…and I don’t have a full understanding or comprehend the logic behind the President’s choice of Mier’s…even with Hugh’s support of her as he delves into this nominee.

We don’t know if Miss Mier’s will actually make conservative decisions as a judge just because her personal views are that of a religious conservative. That guarantees us nothing.

We had a chance to get a nominee who had a proven track record of judicial decisions and logic that would reveal their judicial philosophy. Based on their history…we could have had a more certain outcome.

No one knows how Miss Mier’s will vote…not President Bush…and not even Miss Miers. We have had prior “conservative” judicial nominees…conservative in their personal views, get on the court and suddenly sprout liberal wings.

And I’m not even sure I want a judge’s personal view to influence their rulings. Now of course when they are of the same bent as me…I feel a little more comfortable with that thought. But not when they come from a very liberal or as they now call it “progressive” viewpoint.

I want judges who will set their personal views aside. Realize that we have a separation of powers…and judges are not legislators. And as such…stick with the powers granted them in the Constitution. Of course I do realize that even that idea…is somewhat based on a personal view and interpretation of the Constitution.

I want a Supreme Court that seeks to limit the Federal government’s intrusion into the lives of its citizens. One that doesn’t see the government as the babysitter state. That up holds parental rights and the rights of individual to exercise their freedom of religion…or even lack thereof. I want a Court that upholds the rights of an individual and their freedom until it threatens to intrude on the rights of another and oversteps their boundaries. I want a court that will rein in the legislative and executive branch…when they start to overstep their bounds.

The Bush administration has engaged in a couple of tactics that have been very unwise and even down right absurd. They are pandering to the religious right trying to assuage their concern of the Mier’s nomination by telling them…she’s a religious conservative too…so it’s okay. First let me state unequivocally I am a religious conservative. But playing that game is wrong. Wrong because if the situation was reversed…and it’s was some liberal administration giving similar assurances to the ACLU…the conservatives would be screaming bloody murder.

Another response that came from the Bush administration was patently ridiculous. That was when Laura Bush accused Miss Mier’s detractors of being sexist. Give me a break…I want the right person for the job. Man, woman…it matters not…what matters is, if it’s the right person for the job. To try and pass off this criticism as sexist is to deflect and not have to give a reasonable response to concerns about the choice of Miss Miers.

The thing of it is…we should have taken the shot to get the right person in…not backed down. Sometimes even when you loose…it’s still the right decision. President Bush greatly miscalculated on this appointment.

Almost two weeks ago…as conservatives waited with baited breath…President Bush announced his nomination of White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Both conservatives and liberals alike uttered a collective, “uhhhh”.

In conservative circles…it didn’t take long for that “uhhhh” to change to “you’ve got to be kidding me”. With some very strong candidates such as Janice Rogers Brown, Pricilla Owen, Edith Jones and Michael Luttig as contenders I joined the throngs in crying “foul”.

After all, this moment is why I had so passionately wanted President Bush re-elected. It was our chance to get a strong constitutional conservative with a proven track record on the Supreme Court. Not that I wanted a fight with the Dems…but by golly…I was ready to draw the line in the sand and say “no farther”.

Especially after the earlier performance from “gang of 14”, specifically seven of those members, sidestepping a showdown over the filibuster rule. Now we had the chance to go back and do what they lacked the courage to do.

When the Dems stop the advice and consent process with a filibuster…we would then have the chance to go nuclear. Bring an end, once and for all, to this obnoxious, extreme tactic that halts the legislative process rather than presenting a well reason argument. Yeah…I wanted that.

But more than wanting a fight…I wanted a constitutional conservative taking the bench. One whose judicial rulings bear witness to the philosophy that judges don’t make law, but interpret the law. A person who does not let their personal beliefs about sensitive subjects influence their rulings. But instead compares or holds up a case against the laws and the constitution…and makes their decision based against a fixed standard. One that doesn’t read rights into the Constitution that are not specifically addressed therein.

That’s what I wanted. Did we get that with the nomination of Harriet Miers? I don’t know?

President Bush seems to think so. So I’m left struggling and conflicted. President George Bush has a track record of making some great appointments. You can’t ask for better than Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney, John Ashcroft, Donald Rumsfeld…and even the more liberal Colin Powell. Just recently…he made an excellent choice with John Roberts.

But in the recent past…President Bush has also had some missteps too. Front and center is his slow response and initial poor handling of Hurricane Katrina. Boarder control…he gets a “D”…and that’s grading on the curve. He’s been solid behind tax cuts…but our government is spending money like an uncontrolled drunken sailor. I also need to mention the administration’s lack of ability to clearly communicate why taking the battle to the terrorists, on their territory in Iraq, is actually a good thing.

So President Bush…you have some what of a mixed report card. Yet you say “trust me”.

I’ve got to tell you…Hugh Hewitt has been a huge irritation following the Mier’s nomination. Even while saying she wasn’t his first, second or even third choice…he was standing behind this nomination. He’s continued to highlight reasons why we can trust the President with this nomination and in fact Harriet Miers is a good choice. Every time I’ve listened to Hugh in the last week an a half…I bristled.

But today…I did hear something that made me pause. He commented that perhaps President Bush is calculating that he doesn’t have the political capital and support even from his own party to push through a more controversial nominee. Case in point…our good old “gang of 14”. Also something to consider is Congressman Tom Delay’s legal entanglements…taking away some key support in the House.

So a controversial, conservative nominee would be an uphill battle…one that President Bush may feel we can not win. In part because of some weak willed and wafflely Senators and Congressmen. I do believe that some of the fight has gone out of our dear President. I wish it hadn’t…but here we are left with Harriet Miers.

President Bush…you’ve asked us to trust you. Like realistic, strong and visionary President Ronald Reagan…I say, “Trust, but verify.”

What does that mean to me? That means…I’ll restrain undue criticism for now…and see how Miss Miers does during the upcoming hearings. I’ll wait and see…I’ll give her a chance.

In Matthew 10:16…God counsels us that we are to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

In the last few weeks…really going back to early September…there has been a plethora of news stories that have captured my attention. They’ve made my blood boil…and I’m just trying to sort through all my thoughts to put a coherent piece together. Of recent note are the Harriet Miers nomination for the Supreme Court, the intentional and purposeful twisting and misrepresentation of Bill Bennett’s comments and critics of the federal government’s slow response to Katrina victims being attributed to racism.

The more I tried to sort through the events, my observations and opinions…I find it more difficult and even a bit depressing. I feel as if I’m living in an upside down world…where anything resembling truth or common sense was thrown out the window. I do plan to put my fingers to the keyboard and write on these issues…but want to take the time so I will have clarity of thought…and a balanced perspective.

But I feel compelled to comment today about Dr. James Dobson with regards to the Harriet Miers nomination. Like the verse noted above…we as Christians are admonished to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. My dear Dr. Dobson…I have no doubt that you are innocent as a dove with good intentions. But by golly you surely did not exercise wisdom by inserting your comments about Harriet Miers into the debate and disclosing the fact that you had been speaking with White House officials…namely Karl Rove.

Dr. Dobson…you have been dealing with the media for so long now. And all too frequently you are the subject of criticism by folks in the main stream media whom do not share our values. With that prior personal experience why in the world did you hint at the fact that you had inside information or assurances from “White House Sources”? I don’t get it.

First of all Karl Rove…what do you think you are doing? Haven’t you give enough testimony recently that calls into question you possibly leaking confidential information to outside sources? Yet here you go again Karl. Not a really bright move.

Dr. Dobson…you’ve compounded it…by speaking out like you did. Initially hinting that you had information that lead you to believe that the Miers nomination would be a good thing. Then today…you went into more detail. Golly…what were you thinking. In the first place I call into question you getting that information from Karl Rove…if nothing else it wasn’t prudent. Secondly…you should have taken the information…and encouraged your listeners to be calm, let Miss Miers go through the hearing process before making up their mind. That would have been a balanced response…but not betrayed the fact that maybe you were given info you shouldn’t have been told.

In the interest of full disclosure I must say…I disagree with the Miers nomination. I’m breaking ranks with many of my fellow conservatives. Hugh Hewitt has been trying to bring out the merit and benefits of the Harriet Miers nomination. Despite some arguments…some of which I can even agree with to some degree…I still feel that this an extremely poor and unwise choice by President Bush. But I’ll get into more about that another time.

I feel like I’m in he middle of a bunch of lemmings (made up of fellow conservatives and fellow Christians) that are jumping off the proverbial cliff only to meet their demise.

Folks…a little common sense goes a long way. And right now you are about as far away from it as you can get. Please…I beg of you please be quite…and stop running head long down a road that may be very destructive.

Now would be a really good time…to exercise some wisdom and discernment. Give it a try…fellow conservatives need you…and so do the libs…but they’re just not smart enough to realize it. Bottom line…knock it off!

“Let them eat Angel’s dust!”

Now we all have been around some of those obnoxious sports fans! Those times where you want to take the guy aside and say, “Hey buckaroo…there is more to life than your sports team.”

Not too many people would accuse me of being an obnoxious sports fan. Obnoxious yes…sports fan…probably not top of the list.

With that being said I’m asking for a pass on this misapplication of scripture and Bible Study.

I’m back in Bible Study Fellowship…and this year we are studying Genesis. This last week we studied about the fall of Adam and Eve…and the curses that were pronounced as a result of their sin.

One of the curses was given to the serpent…because he tempted Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God cursed the serpent saying that he would crawl on his belly and eat dust all the days of his life.

And then we learned about what dust symbolizes in scripture. Dust is symbolic of “little worth”, “death” and “frustration”.

So taking on the new role of the “obnoxious sports fan”…I think it only appropriate that I utter a loud cheer for my Angel’s. “White Sox…may you eat Angel’s dust!”

White Sox…may your dreams of victory be of little worth, filled with frustration and die in the face of the Angel’s victory.

I’ll take four games straight please! Go Angel’s, go Angel’s, go Angel’s!

Dan Q…Jeff…this post is for you!

(Photo by AP Photographer Jeff Roberson)