Ok, here's the situation: I was recently accused of "being in love with arguing." I was told I have "an answer to everything." The truth is I know a little bit about a lot of things and I know a lot about a few things. I've been a reader all my life, and through my love of reading I've learned a lot of different things on a variety of subjects. It used to be someone who knew a lot of stuff about a few things was considered well informed and intelligent. I don't like to argue, either; in fact, I HATE arguing. I do, however, like having discussions, and sometimes even a good debate, but I do not like arguing.
When someone makes a statement about a topic which I have some knowledge on, I generally try to impart what I do know to educate the other person on what I've learned. It's not meant to be a statement that the other person is wrong so much as to pass along the information I have. Some would say it's my delivery that prompted the accusation that I like to argue, and that could well be true. I don't try to deliver the information in a condescending manner or come across as a "know-it-all", but to some people I guess I could.
There are some times, however, when the subject is about something personal in my life: an event or a situation in my current place in life, where I will respond if the information that is given is not what I know to be true. But, maybe it's the way I convey that information that carries the subliminal message that I think I know more than anyone, somehow, despite that not being my intent.
I am now more aware of the way in which I present the information I do have, and while I've always been one to let someone know when I don't know something, I must be more careful about how I present the information I do know so that I don't make the person I'm talking with feel like I'm trying to be superior.
This game of life is sometimes complicated, and sometimes without knowing it, we can offend someone just by the way we present ourselves or our information. Thankfully, with God, He looks inside our heart and He knows our intent. He's not going off past experiences with others, He's looking solely at what the intent of our heart is. And I'm so grateful for that.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The "New" English
When is a tax not a tax? When are the rich not rich? When it's Republican lawmakers talking about those things. Republicans stopped calling the wealthy rich sometime in 2011 instead using the euphemism "job creators" and now they're talking about raising the amount Social Security recipients pay but it's not a tax, it's "reducing the subsidy the recipients receive." My question for the GOP is if the wealthy are job creators, where are the jobs they've created? The GOP claim we can't raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans because that would stop them from creating jobs, and yet our job situation over the past 4 or 5 years has been disappearing jobs, not new ones created by these so-called "job creators", even though the incomes of those people have increased dramatically during that same period.
It's mind numbing the way the GOP create new words to divert attention away from the truth in order to keep from offending their wealthy contributors.
It's mind numbing the way the GOP create new words to divert attention away from the truth in order to keep from offending their wealthy contributors.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Just kidding No Excuse For Rude & Derogatory Behavior
We hear, and read, it all the time: someone makes mean-spirited, derogatory or rude comments, then when called on it, they say, "Oh, I was just joking/kidding." WRONG! Anytime someone uses disparaging comments on a regular basis, there's something more going on than just joking; deep inside they are either jealous, envious or truly hateful toward those people they direct those jokes to. Even the Bible forewarned us about someone who says, "just kidding" after making those type statements in Proverbs 26:18-19: "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, 'I was only joking!'"
I know in my own life, I've had relatives who consistently made negative, derogatory remarks to or about me, then when I called them on it, they tried to back peddle by claiming they were only joking. Joking or not, those kinds of repeated comments sting and hurt. And I've seen others who have done the same to others, and when I've mentioned it to them, they claim their target knows they're only joking, and they don't mean all the mean, negative and hurtful things they say. I call that hogwash! When you love someone, whether a family member, spouse or friend, you do not say those types of things on a regular basis. Every now and again, it's just good fun to slightly disparage someone in humor, but to do so on a regular, almost daily basis is not good clean fun, it's an indication of a much deeper seated resentment or jealousy on the part of the one making those statements.
As a brother to a large number of brothers and sisters, I can tell you I have jokingly said things about/to them that if someone didn't know we were siblings, they would think I hated them. But I've only made those statements on rare occasions, and always in the midst of a humor filled visit. And I always let them know on those rare occasions that it was intended as a joke, and that I don't feel that way about them. Of course, because I'm constantly offering positive comments about them, they know when I do make the rare joke that it is just that.
From the tongue comes the truth of the heart. If someone is consistently saying things that are disparaging, defeatist, ugly, rude or derogatory about someone else, it's best to look deeper into their heart to find out why it is they feel the need to make such statements, because those constant barbs of negativity do not come from a spirit of love.
I know in my own life, I've had relatives who consistently made negative, derogatory remarks to or about me, then when I called them on it, they tried to back peddle by claiming they were only joking. Joking or not, those kinds of repeated comments sting and hurt. And I've seen others who have done the same to others, and when I've mentioned it to them, they claim their target knows they're only joking, and they don't mean all the mean, negative and hurtful things they say. I call that hogwash! When you love someone, whether a family member, spouse or friend, you do not say those types of things on a regular basis. Every now and again, it's just good fun to slightly disparage someone in humor, but to do so on a regular, almost daily basis is not good clean fun, it's an indication of a much deeper seated resentment or jealousy on the part of the one making those statements.
As a brother to a large number of brothers and sisters, I can tell you I have jokingly said things about/to them that if someone didn't know we were siblings, they would think I hated them. But I've only made those statements on rare occasions, and always in the midst of a humor filled visit. And I always let them know on those rare occasions that it was intended as a joke, and that I don't feel that way about them. Of course, because I'm constantly offering positive comments about them, they know when I do make the rare joke that it is just that.
From the tongue comes the truth of the heart. If someone is consistently saying things that are disparaging, defeatist, ugly, rude or derogatory about someone else, it's best to look deeper into their heart to find out why it is they feel the need to make such statements, because those constant barbs of negativity do not come from a spirit of love.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Getting Rid of My Babies
In the past few weeks, several well meaning friends and relatives have voiced their opinion that I need to get rid of at least one of my dogs, if not all of them; I know this "advice" is coming from a place of love and concern for me, but I want to set the record straight: I am not going to get rid of my dogs now, or anytime in the near future.
Let me explain something, here. My babies are the reason I get out of bed on those days when the pain is so bad I would like to do nothing more than just lay in bed and cry! Because the dogs have to go out and potty and have to be fed, I have to get out of bed. And, if I were to lay in bed one day, it would be easy to lay in the bed a second day, and a third and a tenth, and so forth. My doctors told me a long time ago I would be in a wheelchair before I reached 40 years old. At just past my 48th birthday, I'm still on my feet, in part because I have to get up and take care of my dogs. I have a reason to get out of bed, especially on days when I don't want to because the pain is so bad.
I've recently fallen twice in the space of about 10 days, and some have blamed my falling on my dogs, when the truth is, my dogs had nothing to do with either fall. Yes, I was outside with the dogs on both occasions, but with the first fall, the dogs were more than 70 feet away; I had turned to look where the dogs were, and tripped over my own feet because my right leg decided to stop working at that exact moment. Nothing to do with the dogs. In the 2nd, I was outside with Rufus, and though he was on the leash, he was not pulling or causing any problem. Again, my leg decided to just "disappear" and I fell. It would have happened had I been inside or if I had no pets, whatsoever. It's part and parcel of the nerve damage in my spine.
My dogs offer me more than they could ever require from me: love, companionship, caring and they give me a reason to get out of bed each and every day. Yes, there are times when I wish I didn't have to take them outside to do their bizness; when I wish I didn't have to get up and prepare their food or refill their water bowls; when I loathe having to put them in the bathtub to bathe them. And yet, I wouldn't trade having to do those things for the loneliness and lack of a need to get out of bed for any amount of money.
I am greatly appreciative of the fact that my friends and family love me enough to be concerned about me, and I know the statements about getting rid of a dog or all the dogs comes from that place of concern and caring, but the truth is, if my friends and family truly care for me and are concerned for my welfare, they will understand that I NEED my babies, very deeply. No one would think of telling a parent who has the same physical problems I have that they should get rid of one of their children, even if that child had done something that caused the parent to fall; well, Trudie, Whitley, Rascal and Rufus are my children.
Let me explain something, here. My babies are the reason I get out of bed on those days when the pain is so bad I would like to do nothing more than just lay in bed and cry! Because the dogs have to go out and potty and have to be fed, I have to get out of bed. And, if I were to lay in bed one day, it would be easy to lay in the bed a second day, and a third and a tenth, and so forth. My doctors told me a long time ago I would be in a wheelchair before I reached 40 years old. At just past my 48th birthday, I'm still on my feet, in part because I have to get up and take care of my dogs. I have a reason to get out of bed, especially on days when I don't want to because the pain is so bad.
I've recently fallen twice in the space of about 10 days, and some have blamed my falling on my dogs, when the truth is, my dogs had nothing to do with either fall. Yes, I was outside with the dogs on both occasions, but with the first fall, the dogs were more than 70 feet away; I had turned to look where the dogs were, and tripped over my own feet because my right leg decided to stop working at that exact moment. Nothing to do with the dogs. In the 2nd, I was outside with Rufus, and though he was on the leash, he was not pulling or causing any problem. Again, my leg decided to just "disappear" and I fell. It would have happened had I been inside or if I had no pets, whatsoever. It's part and parcel of the nerve damage in my spine.
My dogs offer me more than they could ever require from me: love, companionship, caring and they give me a reason to get out of bed each and every day. Yes, there are times when I wish I didn't have to take them outside to do their bizness; when I wish I didn't have to get up and prepare their food or refill their water bowls; when I loathe having to put them in the bathtub to bathe them. And yet, I wouldn't trade having to do those things for the loneliness and lack of a need to get out of bed for any amount of money.
I am greatly appreciative of the fact that my friends and family love me enough to be concerned about me, and I know the statements about getting rid of a dog or all the dogs comes from that place of concern and caring, but the truth is, if my friends and family truly care for me and are concerned for my welfare, they will understand that I NEED my babies, very deeply. No one would think of telling a parent who has the same physical problems I have that they should get rid of one of their children, even if that child had done something that caused the parent to fall; well, Trudie, Whitley, Rascal and Rufus are my children.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Truth About Beauty
In the modern era, we seem to be consumed with the idea of beauty. Yes, I know that looks have always held a high place in mankind's mind/heart, but it seems in the 20th and 21st centuries, beauty has become an obsession, not only for people searching for it but for people wanting to be beautiful. What both the beholder and the beholden always seem to forget, however, is that beauty comes from the inside out. Yes, the physical attractiveness of a person is what most people see, but that's genetic; we have absolutely no control (without resorting to radical surgery) over how our faces are formed or how we look.
What we do control, however, is the beauty that is our heart and soul. "Beauty is as beauty does" is an old cliché, but it is absolutely true. Many people who are, or have been, exquisitely formed physically ruin that physical beauty by the ugliness of their soul and heart. Beauty is kindness, gentleness, meekness, lawfulness, compassionate, helpful, loving and empathetic. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were said to possess great physical beauty, but the ugliness of their actions obliterated any positives their physical appearance may have rendered. Ted Bundy was said to have "movie star looks", but the ugliness of his murders made that physical attractiveness moot.
Being a law abiding citizen who is kind and helpful to those around you, offering encouragement and love to those you come into contact with daily and being a dependable and trustworthy friend, relative or acquaintance makes you much more beautiful than anything your looks may offer. Jesus once used the following to describe a group of people, both individually and as a group: "you make clean the outside of the cup, but within you are full of extortion and excess." He was telling them that even though their outward appearance might be described as beautiful, the ugliness that was within made the outside appearance irrelevant.
People may look at you, without knowing you, and see the outer beauty, but anyone who spends any time with you is going to notice your inner beauty more than your appearance. If you lie, steal, cheat, backstab, gossip, betray, treat people with cruelty, break the law and otherwise do things that are not beautiful, then you will not be described as beautiful. The ugliness of the heart/soul will be what people think of when they hear your name.
What we do control, however, is the beauty that is our heart and soul. "Beauty is as beauty does" is an old cliché, but it is absolutely true. Many people who are, or have been, exquisitely formed physically ruin that physical beauty by the ugliness of their soul and heart. Beauty is kindness, gentleness, meekness, lawfulness, compassionate, helpful, loving and empathetic. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were said to possess great physical beauty, but the ugliness of their actions obliterated any positives their physical appearance may have rendered. Ted Bundy was said to have "movie star looks", but the ugliness of his murders made that physical attractiveness moot.
Being a law abiding citizen who is kind and helpful to those around you, offering encouragement and love to those you come into contact with daily and being a dependable and trustworthy friend, relative or acquaintance makes you much more beautiful than anything your looks may offer. Jesus once used the following to describe a group of people, both individually and as a group: "you make clean the outside of the cup, but within you are full of extortion and excess." He was telling them that even though their outward appearance might be described as beautiful, the ugliness that was within made the outside appearance irrelevant.
People may look at you, without knowing you, and see the outer beauty, but anyone who spends any time with you is going to notice your inner beauty more than your appearance. If you lie, steal, cheat, backstab, gossip, betray, treat people with cruelty, break the law and otherwise do things that are not beautiful, then you will not be described as beautiful. The ugliness of the heart/soul will be what people think of when they hear your name.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The State of Our Nation
The United States of America has been fighting to recover from "The Great Recession". Several ideas and initiatives which were meant to jumpstart our economy have been tried, and while some of them didn't do much, we can't really say they've all failed. We narrowly escaped falling into a "double dip recession", thanks in most part to those initiatives and programs. And while the vast majority of Americans are struggling to survive month to month, I keep hearing the politicians blaming everyone but themselves. Of course, each party is blaming the other, but collectively the political machines from Washington, DC to the local city councils across the nation are blaming anything and everything except their own past actions and failures to act.
And while the politicos are throwing mud at one another, the average citizens who are affiliated with a particular political party/cause, regurgitate the bile and venom being offered by the politicians. Everyone keeps accusing the "other side" of not offering any plans to make things better when the truth of the matter is both sides have offered plans, but each party rejects anything and everything that comes from "across the aisle", out of hand, without really giving it a look see, simply because it came from "across the aisle."
I'm sick of hearing how Barack Obama is responsible for the economy. Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Tea Party or Independent, you have to remember that the economy tanked during the previous administration. Obama didn't cause the economy to fail, and in fact, no President is able to cause our economy to fail or succeed. Our economy is 70% based on us, the consumers. We stopped spending and the economy faltered. We stopped spending because of huge scandals and failures in the banking industry, Wall Street and the automotive industry, but it was we who brought down our economy.
I know, I know. It's heresy in this country to actually state the truth that we are responsible. It's become the norm to blame everyone, anyone, else. No matter what the problem, we blame everyone but ourselves. But, it is time we got back to the basics of truth. Stop pawning our problems off on the shoulders of everyone else and stand up and face what we have done to ourselves, by ourselves.
And where did we come up with this idea that throwing mud at someone because they're not a member of our political circle is acceptable? That's NOT the teachings of Christ that I read in my Bible. Maybe I have a different version than most of the Christians I know or read in the media or on Facebook, but mine tells me to love each and every person on the planet the way God loves me. And that I am to speak only if my words are encouraging, exalting, good and joyful. I don't recall anywhere where it tells me to trash talk anyone or level accusations against people I don't know except for what appears in the media. We all know there's more to a person than what the media presents. And even if we do know someone more than just through the media, where did we get the idea that we can speak for God about the status of another person's heart? I seem to recall Jesus stating that no man can see into the heart of another man, that only God sees the heart of man.
More and more I see the Church of today resembling the institution that Jesus railed against during his years of Ministry. We have become the scribes and Pharisees; the Sadducees and the Sanhedrin. We've allowed our traditions to completely push out the Grace and Mercy and Love that Christ taught.
I keep hearing so many Christians saying that we need to get on our knees so God can heal our nation. I couldn't agree more, but the problem is, most of those people don't really want to get on their knees and ask God to forgive them for their judgmental attitudes and statements or their missing the mark; they want God to come down and strike dead everyone who believes differently than they do or who isn't a member of their favorite political party. I don't think God's a Republican or a Democrat. In fact, I know He's not, because He instructed us to not put our faith and treasure in the things of this world, because this world is not our home: Heaven is!
And while the politicos are throwing mud at one another, the average citizens who are affiliated with a particular political party/cause, regurgitate the bile and venom being offered by the politicians. Everyone keeps accusing the "other side" of not offering any plans to make things better when the truth of the matter is both sides have offered plans, but each party rejects anything and everything that comes from "across the aisle", out of hand, without really giving it a look see, simply because it came from "across the aisle."
I'm sick of hearing how Barack Obama is responsible for the economy. Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Tea Party or Independent, you have to remember that the economy tanked during the previous administration. Obama didn't cause the economy to fail, and in fact, no President is able to cause our economy to fail or succeed. Our economy is 70% based on us, the consumers. We stopped spending and the economy faltered. We stopped spending because of huge scandals and failures in the banking industry, Wall Street and the automotive industry, but it was we who brought down our economy.
I know, I know. It's heresy in this country to actually state the truth that we are responsible. It's become the norm to blame everyone, anyone, else. No matter what the problem, we blame everyone but ourselves. But, it is time we got back to the basics of truth. Stop pawning our problems off on the shoulders of everyone else and stand up and face what we have done to ourselves, by ourselves.
And where did we come up with this idea that throwing mud at someone because they're not a member of our political circle is acceptable? That's NOT the teachings of Christ that I read in my Bible. Maybe I have a different version than most of the Christians I know or read in the media or on Facebook, but mine tells me to love each and every person on the planet the way God loves me. And that I am to speak only if my words are encouraging, exalting, good and joyful. I don't recall anywhere where it tells me to trash talk anyone or level accusations against people I don't know except for what appears in the media. We all know there's more to a person than what the media presents. And even if we do know someone more than just through the media, where did we get the idea that we can speak for God about the status of another person's heart? I seem to recall Jesus stating that no man can see into the heart of another man, that only God sees the heart of man.
More and more I see the Church of today resembling the institution that Jesus railed against during his years of Ministry. We have become the scribes and Pharisees; the Sadducees and the Sanhedrin. We've allowed our traditions to completely push out the Grace and Mercy and Love that Christ taught.
I keep hearing so many Christians saying that we need to get on our knees so God can heal our nation. I couldn't agree more, but the problem is, most of those people don't really want to get on their knees and ask God to forgive them for their judgmental attitudes and statements or their missing the mark; they want God to come down and strike dead everyone who believes differently than they do or who isn't a member of their favorite political party. I don't think God's a Republican or a Democrat. In fact, I know He's not, because He instructed us to not put our faith and treasure in the things of this world, because this world is not our home: Heaven is!
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