Tag Archives: poetry

Is it Lack of Control or the Desire

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I would suspect there of other reasons that people use profanity. However I would suspect that the above two reasons sum it up for most part. Indeed, if a person cannot control his tongue, it is probable he cannot control his life either.

On the other hand, there are those that use profanity intentionally. It helps their ego. They think it adds authority to commands or instructions. When calling attention to another persons faults, they think that it helps add emphasis. .The stronger the profanity, the more of them that are strung together, the louder the words, the more emphatic.

Jesus, when he was told that some people were not washing their hands before eating, said that it is not what goes into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes out. With these few words, He tells us that a man defiles himself when he uses profanity, regardless of the reason. By implication the Bible says that when filth pours out of a man’s mouth, then it tells us that what is in his heart is filthy too.

Some lack control. Some do it for their ego. Some use it to profane God’s name. Some do it on purpose and then act as if it was a moment of weakness. To God, it is all worse than not washing our hands.

Because it has it has become so commonplace, people think it’s okay. Fact is, that makes it all the worse.

Sometimes, I Wish the Bible Spoke More Plainly

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Since my teens, I knew that God spoke against astrology. I’m not going to argue the point. God makes it very clear in a number places in the Bible. As I read, I saw them. I cannot call them out right now other than Daniel condemned the King of Babylon for following stargazers. Naturally, that is in Daniel.

I was well into adulthood when I saw something that floored me. Truly, I can only speculate. While archeologist were digging around the Temple, they discovered a copy of what appeared to be the astrological signs, arranged in a circle, right out in the middle of one of the porches.

I can’t explain that and I will not try. However, God is very clear. We are to go to Him and his Word for wisdom and not the stars. It does appear to be a very stark contradiction. Of course, in a year or two, I’ll know. For now, however, I’m going to have to plead ignorance.

Maybe, possibly, I can bring a small amount of light if I am allowed a wild guess. Bear in mind, it is just a guess. First, in Genesis, God tells us that He gave us the constellations as guide to tell when to plant and when to harvest; a sign for the seasons. I suspect that it is something that has followed mankind through history. It would also make it easy to turn the constellations into gods or messages from gods. How easy it is to start worshiping the created instead of the creator.

Nonetheless, God did provide them for guidance. They were gifts from God, not gods.

I found another interesting fact. Each of the twelve tribes of Israel had it’s its own flag, standard which God told them to carry before the tribe whenever they moved from one place to another. I think you will find that in Exodus, though I am not sure.

Try as I might, I could not find what was on each of the flags. It has caused me a little curiosity. It is one of those questions I will have for God, though I really wished he’d tell me sooner.

Now, this is where I go out on a limb, maybe the proverbial plank. I hope God will forgive me for a little conjecture, but it does fit. The flags might have each had a constellation on it. It makes sense, but, as I said, it is a guess. If each constellation represented one of the tribes, twelve in all, it would not at all be remarkable to find the constellations to be on the porch. It would in no way imply that they were used for worship or guidance.

If wrong, then you will have to wait like me. That is, unless those archeologists find something else that explains it, like maybe those banners.

Flight?

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Thousands of years ago, birds learned how to take flight. It took us many eons after. As the flies and bees were hovering around, man was still proud that he could go about 50 mph on wheels. And here’s something for you, we still don’t have a clue how a fly lands on the ceiling up-side-down. I’m not sure we will ever figure that one out and I am not sure that they even have brains. That is something of a blow to man’s ego.

Inadvertently, they discovered that the one most scary part of a pilot’s mission is the return to the carrier and putting his plane back down on the deck. This, of course, after years of practice. Can you imagine if we had to land upside down, you know, like the fly.

There is no telling how long man tried to copy the birds. Of course there are some images back from the middle ages. However, there were no photographs of anyone soaring through the sky. I suspect there were many instances of failure.

Some have suggested that before the original sin, man was able to fly. I don’t know. Don’t ask me to confirm that one way or the other. I wasn’t there. I don’t know anyone to ask. However, the Bible does say that Adam was given dominion over all the animals. The question arises, if Adam was to have dominion over the birds, how was that without him being able to fly?

You have no idea how many times that I have dreamed I could fly. You know the bad thing about that. I always wake up. I often wonder if flying would be anything like what it felt like in my dreams.

Wouldn’t it be slick to be able to go up to 5 or 10 thousand feet and look down on the world as the birds do? Now here’s a question. If I could fly, would I be able to land on a ceiling stay there up-side-down? Lacking the proper feet for the task, I think I might land and then immediately fall.

If we were able to fly, can you imagine if God had allowed us to continue to fly after Adam ate the fruit? It didn’t take a generation for the first killing. If we could fly, I’m not sure we would have lasted until the flood. The mid-air flights and murders would be very common.

If God took away our ability to fly, I don’t think that was all. To be sure, the Bible does say Adam had dominion. There is no telling what other abilities He originally provided.

My guess is, when we go to heaven, we again have these abilities again. Who knows? Maybe we will again fly like the birds, but without wings. Perhaps I will be able to even land on the ceiling.

I Had a Dream

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I knew it had to be a dream, cause I was doing things I knew I couldn’t do. I dreamed I was playing baseball as well as I ever did.

I was running and jumping, throwing and catching, and I was hitting the ball like a pro. Now let me tell you, that is one of those dreams that I would just as soon never end.

It does make me wish I had some control over my dreaming. Maybe before going to sleep I could set my mind on what I want to dream and I would dream it.

I suppose it is a good thing I can’t. I would likely sleep as much as I could. I guess I would spend entirely too much time dreaming that I was playing first base professionally.

It does cause me to speculate. Could it possibly be better in heaven than my little dream? I mean I did so love to play baseball. I wonder how it could possibly be better in heaven. I have not the answer but the Bible does. And God does assure me that it is better than my dream. Even better, I’ll never have to wake up.

As a side note, I will have something to say about it. Because I have accepted Jesus as my savior I will spend eternity with him. It is far better than what the alternative would have been.

And here’s the neat part. There will be no pain, no suffering, and I will be able to run better than my high school days. That, in itself would make it heaven. However, it is just a small part of it.

Humorus Things, Usually

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When I was in Marine boot camp, I laughed at the confession I was in. The man next to me warned me that if the D.I. saw me I’d be in trouble. I replied, “If I don’t laugh I’d have to cry.” He looked at me as if I were nuts, which of course, I was. No one, but no one wanted to be caught laughing without permission.

Of course there are many other things that prompt me to laugh. Children are my favorite. Unfortunately, I am not around them all that much anymore. It’s one of the disadvantages of getting old.

Dogs, cats and occasionally birds make me laugh. My border collie loved to chase remote control cars, big bouncy balls and bubbles. He would chase them until he could hardly stand. Others watched him too and laughed. I have already said how I love to watch the cats chase lasers.

I like a good comedy movie. As I’ve said, I’ve seen Kelly’s Heroes at least a dozen times and just thinking of some parts make me laugh. Then there is Paleface with Bob Hope and Support Your Local Sheriff with James Garner.

A good joke will cause me to laugh while the dirty ones just turn my stomach. Sometimes, the right phrase will cause me and others to laugh. Today, I noticed some people in a restaurant slightly laughing. I looked over at the the total strangers and cautioned them that they were having entirely too much fun. We all laughed, especially them. Obviously I am not very good at quelling an outbreak of laughter.

I guess the little heading that was in Readers Digest is valid. Laughter is the Best Medicine. I always feel better after a good laugh. I think most of us do.

Daily writing prompt
What makes you laugh?
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I Suppose it is a Matter of Time

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As with most, I like dogs, especially border collies. Then again there are those who get angry when you group border collies with dogs.

Regardless, it is something about timing. Had I been born a century earlier I’m sure I would prefer a horse. Walking is no fun.

I know it’s not a direct answer. Still, I guess things do very. A border collie would be pretty handy if I hearded sheep. Not only that, I would have a happy dog. Nothing makes a border collies happier than a few sheep.

Thing is, being 76, it would be a bad idea to get any animals. I could drop over and orphan them at any time.

Even so, we have a few felines. They keep me from floating up off my recliner while I’m napping. I guess that serves an important purpose.

Bloganuary writing prompt
What is your favorite animal?
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Win Lottery?

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Well. I would be very surprised. I don’t participate in such. My small fortune is far too valuable to my wife and I.

If I may, I will explain what I might do if, as in the “Fidler on the Roof” song, I Were a Rich Man.

I guess the first thing I would do would be to guard it from the dems. I am sure that there are the 100s who would all know all these wonderful places for money. Did you know there are over a million registered charities that would be glad to take small, or larger sum from you. They are all wonderful organizations, I am sure. Only thing is, if I started with a million and gave each a dollar, I’d be penniless.

Some might want to sell me gold. That might be nice to have, but I can’t eat gold. I think I would rather have a year or two of survival food. Moreover, gasoline would be more useful. Did you know gold is very soft. That makes it a pretty sorry material for building. I think steel and aluminum would be far more useful.

A small plot of land seems a good investment. Old Joe and Obama seem to like the idea ocean coast property, despite the threat they keep telling us about. The ocean is about to rise 10 feet you know. Well, I’ll just make sure I’m 20 feet above the current tidal levels.

I think I would really like to start a really good school for teaching people of all ages to read. It would not be expensive. Rent a little space, hire a few teachers and pay the electric bill. If I didn’t have enough for teachers, I would just start teaching. Perhaps, I could find a volunteer or 2, or 3.

Of course, none of this would ever happen. I don’t buy lottery tickets. I have not once been in any of the local casinos. I have no desire.

It is likely because I never could win at gambling as a kid. I learned very young. Gambling, even if you win, is a bad idea. Besides, I do have a good understanding of math. I know my chances. Don’t like giving money away.

Bloganuary writing prompt
What would you do if you won the lottery?
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Attention to Detail

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I have known a few. As a big picture person, I have a tendency to overlook details. It both helps and hurts in my writing. It helps me develop good plots and then I leave out words or even phrases.

Look at Mickey Spillane. He wrote his first book in nineteen hours. Then he sent it, as is, to a publisher. How many folks can do that sort of thing on a typewriter?

When I was in the Marines, I met a few men who very, very rarely made mistakes. It’s not that they corrected them. They didn’t make them in the first place.

I think, if I were put in a position of great responsibility, I would like to surround myself with folks like that. They just might make me look very good.

Daily writing prompt
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
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