An interesting political platform, even if it is fictitious.

O.K. I copied the following from another blog, but thought is was worth some attention. It is supposed to be Bill Cosby's platform for his supposed campaign to be a write in candidate in the presidential election this fall. HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. IT APPEARS HE DID NOT EVEN MAKE THESE STATEMENTS. But if anyone would run on the following, they'd sure get my vote. What do you think?

(1) 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait at the border until you can.
(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country's attitude. NO imports, no exports. We will use the 'Wal-Mart's policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.'
(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it.
(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border. (six month tour) They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.
(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't getting nuttin out. The president nor any other politician will not be able to touch it.
(6) Welfare - Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40 hour school week and the successful completion of urinalysis and a passing grade.
(7) Professional Athletes --Steroids - The FIRST time you check positive you're banned for life.(8) Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is no more life sentences. If convicted of murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim; gun, knife, strangulation, etc.
(9) One export will be allowed; Wheat, The world needs to eat. A bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.
(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately cease, and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision whether it's a worthy cause.
(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.
(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.

Granted, there are some flaws, and certainly the worlds poor would starve to death if we stopped sending aid, but...
As we approach the coming election, it would do all Christians well to do so prayerfully and thoughtfully.

food for thought
He Has Made Me Glad
jeff

Standing Ovation

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

Many times during the course of my life, I have sensed that I had experienced this passage, at least the first part. Many a day have I watched the sun rise over the tree tops and heard the birds of the forest spring to life. Those are good days for sure. Today was a day much like all those others. A good day. It was the opening day of bow season in Kentucky. It was incredible as the mountains and the hills burst into song. But then something beyond my ability to describe took place. A breeze began to blow, and for the first time in my life I heard the trees clapping their hands. It was an unprecedented standing ovation, like nothing I have heard before. The Creation gave its praise to the Creator and for about 5 minutes I simply did my part too. It was a beautiful thing, if only for a moment, to get something...the only thing....right.

What will tomorrow bring? I dont have a clue. But I know that Creation will once again glorify its Creator, and hopefully I'll be found doing my part. Will you join me?

He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff

FaceBook......what the heck??????????

OK, so my wife tells me, "you really ought to do this." Like I really need one more thing in life to do. She says, "It's a great way to keep in touch with everybody." So I say, "OK, I'll give it a try." And that's what I've done. Now, it seems in the registration process I've done what I despise most.......I spammed everybody in my inbox. I'm sure I clicked on something that caused me to do that, but I'm an idiot. I didn't mean to do it.

So for all of you that got some sort of notice. Sorry. Remember, I'm an idiot.

That being said, this may actually be sort of neat. At least in a "good intentions" sort of way. I know that I need to be a better friend to those whom I call "friend." I know I do a horrible job at keeping in touch. I know I blogged sometime around the first of the year that I was going to make an effort at this. All that being said, maybe this network-thing will help me in that.

Of course, I barely know how to do this blog, so I'm sure I just jumped in way over my head, but I guess its not the first time I've done that either. Who knows. I may become Captain Facebook. But dont hold your breath.

On another note, howabout the Americans in the Olympics?
Michael Phelps? Women's Water Polo team? And my 3 favorites: Shawn Johnson, May-Treanor & Walsh? I was so happy to see Johnson go GOLD on the balance beam. She just looks like America to me. Thankfully, the games are almost over and I can go to bed at a decent hour. I'm as wore out as some of the athletes must be, just because I'm living on so little sleep.

Speaking of sleep, Baylee slept all night for the second time in her 26 months of life on Tuesday Night. Wow! Praise the Lord and all that Jazz.

This weekend is the big church trip to Holiday World. Over 100 people from New Hope will be loading up for a big day of fun in the sun (I hope).
Hope all is well with you.
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff

Perspective................

Well, maybe I need to practice more of what I preach. Maybe I need to get off the cross so somebody else can use the wood. Not sure. But I have neglected to look at so many of the good things going on around the church. Let me take a minute to do that:
10 baptisms in the last month
6 of those in response to recent professions of faith
Back to School Blessing Sunday
5 Sundays with over 150 in attendance
2 Great weeks of Church Camps
A New Youth Minister on Staff
A Building Debt that is almost RETIRED!!!!!!
I am thinking I could go on at this for a while.

I guess that's the point. I have been a dufuss for letting a few small things get in the way of seeing the Glory of the Lord as it has been revealed in our congregation. And that's the way the enemy works. He's constantly trying to get us to take our eyes off of Christ.

On a personal note I just made myself wonder: In this age of politically correctness and inclusive language, how come those who want to make God more inclusive dont push as tirelessly for getting us to see the neutral Satan. It's still ok for feminists (for example only) to call Satan a "he," but its not ok to call God a "he." What gives? I dont get it.

On another personal note, following our baptismal service last Sunday Night, my son Hunter came out with a real funny. We were reliving the whole day and getting Jammies on and he said "Daddy, I'm so good I dont even have to be bap-a-tized!" Oh, to be a kid again. There's real truth in that if you choose to see things from the Lord's perspective towards our kids. Maybe we all need to be more childlike in our faith and not waste so much time being "mature."

He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff

ashamed

PCUSA General Assembly

I have spent a little time this past week following the General Assembly of the PCUSA denomination. A good website that I have used to do that is www.layman.org . I think it is a site that more closely reflects my theological position and deals with the issues that I find to be of the most importance for the church. (Just for the record, I think many in the PCUSA heirarchy would describe this site as heretical and closed-minded.)

About the time I think God may tire of the half-hearted Cumberland denomination I find the PCUSA church is still here, which means we should certainly have more time left to turn our ship around.

As I went through the news stories on that site, I was heartbroken, outraged, disgusted and ashamed. I dont understand how anyone with half of a rational mind and Gideons Hotel Bible could align themselves with such nonsense. And yet they do. Sadly, I do. Not directly, but by association.

My denomination longs to experience reunion with our former "family." OK, maybe not the denomination as a whole, (and certainly not me!!!) but many of our denominational leaders and staff persons spend a lot of time pushing for joint projects and activities and opportunities. I heard a little nonsense about our "joint" projects at General Assembly. And for the life of me, I dont get it. WHY? I think the official numbers are something like 57,000 members left the PCUSA church last year alone. Why on earth would we want to align ourselves with a Church whose own members are grieved by their own behavior? Not to go all "Holy-Roller" or anything, but how many times does Scripture warn us about associating with the evil and godless?

Just my thoughts on a Friday Morning.
He Has Made Me Glad! (Though concerned)
jeff

Some quick observations

The first is the Garden. All things considered the garden isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. When I got home from Japan, none of the plants in the picture were visible. After a little weed-eating and a few run-throughs with the tiller, all is well again. I never really expected Miss Bert to get too much gardening done for me given the schedule she was going to be keeping.

The second picture is the best. Because of her STRONG personality, Baylee is usually the one that makes the blog. She's always doing something unbelievable. Hunter, is the more tenderhearted one of the family. He's seldom out there on the cutting edge of thrills. But yesterday, HE RECLAIMED HIS MAN-CARD! Mommy built us a "White-Trash Waterpark" in the back yard. At the end of the slide is a kiddy pool. The sprinkler is wrapped around the pool. It is indeed a festival of water fun. At any rate, Hunter thought he'd add a little action to the waterslide by taking it on a mini-bigwheel.

This could have been one of the most proud moments of my life. Reminded me of the time when I took my bike off the neighbors roof. Look's like the trips to the Emergency Room are about to begin. Awesome.

This week is VBS and maybe tomorrow I'll add a little about that. For now that's all I've got.
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff