Barak Obama's "Flat Earth Society"

In order to understand this and other posts, you must first view the YouTube video I recommended in my very first post. If you have not seen this video, please go to YouTube and Search for: Carl Sagan: The Tesseract. Please do not skip this step.

In 1492 Columbus discovered America. He was not looking for it. He was looking for a westward route by sea from Europe to India. He thought he had found it, so he called the natives "Indians." OK, that was wrong. But there is much evidence that points to C. Columbus being guided by the Holy Spirit. For one thing, God revealed to him that the world was "round." Actually, that the world was spherical, not round like a plate. Columbus found scripture (in the book of Isaiah) to back up his observation that ships sailing beyond the horizon did not disappear all at once, but from the bottom up; as if they were disappearing over a hill.

Since the 15th century the educated among us has known the world is a sphere, if not a perfect sphere. Yet, in this 21st century we have a President of our country that would have the world to be FLAT. If the world is not flat, he wants to just "will" it to be flat. He wants the people of the world to acknowledge the world to be FLAT. No mountains and no valleys. No hills and no plains. All should be "flat and equal," with no nation or region "exalted above another," as he said in his recent speech before the so-called United Nations. This is the answer to the problems of the world, issuing forth from the wisdom of the "annointed one," BHO. To ensure that none disagree with him, he (by what authority?) has decreed that the G8 Nations (the MOST politically, militarily and economically strong nations) will be supplanted by the G20 (the G8 nations, plus Communist regimes such as China, India, and others). Hence, the "FLAT EARTH SOCIETY."

Just exactly how is this to be accomplished? Well, you have to make the world FLAT. Flat and equal. No country has the right to stand up for itself, and no country can independently declare war on another. No country can choose their place in the "Global Economy." Any and all countries have to be regulated as far as what they export, or what they import, because the Global Economy must be regulated by the Flat Earth Society, or the G20. Almost laughingly, the world media declared today that "Obama Has Ushered In A New World Order." Give me a break; that term is so worn out it's pathetic. By the way, are they calling BHO an usher? The NAACP might have something to say about that....how racially offensive!

Here is the Flat Word: Mountains would only be in 2 dimensions, reduced to irregular outlines  on the ground, in our view. Even street lights would just look like circles on the ground, and the light they emit would be useless, usually falling from above to illuminate the differences of our 3 dimensional world. The words you are reading exist only in two dimensions. In 2 dimensions, nothing "stands out." All is flat and equal. Clouds would not look like animals, geographic features would be unattractive. Imagination would be stifled, as your children, co-workers and neighbors look like posters on a wall! Interrelationships would be nonexistant, as posters do not have the need to communicate with each other. Each moment in time would be a separate picture with no continuum like we have in modern TV and movies; it would be like thumbing through a deck of separate cards; jumpy and irregular movements with no sound and no purpose. And every "religion" or belief system will have to "Kow Tow" to the new Flat Earth Society; we cannot have anything or anyone who "stands out," or is "exalted above another," remember?

Backing up Obama's Flat Earth philosophy is the "Vatican" of former Democrat Party "Formerly Importants" like Jimmy "Crawl Under the Desk In the Oval Office if the Bad People Take US Hostages" Carter, and Bill "I Never Had Sex With That Woman" Clinton, as well as Howard "I Said That, But I Never Said That" Dean. You just don't question the "annoited one," BHO - or you are a RACIST! Well, when Obama's Approval Rating was 65% they didn't even ackowledge disagreements; he was too popular for them to worry about it. When his Approval Rating dropped to 55% "they" were still not that worried. BUT when Obama's Approval Rating dropped BELOW 52% it became RACIST to disagree with him. WTF, do they really think they are being clever? How transparent can they be? Oh, wait, the world is flat. I forgot.

Summing up; the world is now FLAT. No nation, thing, philosophy, etc. is above another (notwithstanding the fact that if you disagree with Obama, you ARE a racist). Don't go fly a kite; there is no up, only side to side and front to back. BHO said so.

FW: Mama and Kittens

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Seamen
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:48 PM
To: Ruth Foster (ruth.foster@gmail.com)
Subject: Mama and Kittens

I have received several complaints about an abandoned house with an overgrown lawn, broken fence, etc. in one of the Homeowners Associations I manage, in Weatherford, TX. When I went to the door of the abandoned house yesterday, I heard a tiny little “meow.” I looked down and saw a little kitten, then another little kitten. They were about the size of mice. Then Mama Cat came up to me and looked at me like, “Please, I need help.” Mama was skin and bones, but had a beautiful coat. A few more kittens emerged from the overgrown shrub bed and a couple sat on my shoes to get off the cold concrete. They all had beautiful coats, but they were all so weak they could barely walk, yet they would not let me leave! 

They followed whatever direction I went. When I went to my car they surrounded it, but I could not tell where they all were or if I would crush any if I drove off.

I called Animal Control, and they said an officer would call me back. He did, two hours later. I could not leave these little waifs, and I knew they had spent the last several nights in the rain and wind.

I called out to a neighbor and she gave me a cardboard box to put the kittens in – there were now six of them – for transportation. I first stopped at Wal-Mart and bought 3 cans of cat food (I don’t usually like cats that much, and the smell of cat food is awful to me). I laid some paper towels on the back floorboard and put an open can on top for Mama.  Then I opened another can and put into the box. Only about 3 of the 6 were ready for solid food, so some were still hungry; but I knew they weren’t going to get anything out of skinny ole Mama!

Where else could I take them, but to my wife’s office, 35 miles away? Picture me driving 65 miles per hour on I-20, trying to keep six kittens from climbing out of a box with no lid! I finally took my windbreaker and placed it over the box, tucking it in between the box and the front seat back. They still got out!

As I navigated the I-30 and I-20 split heading into Fort Worth, I felt something against my leg. I looked down and Mama was between my feet with her head under my brake, nursing one of her young. I turned off the cruise control (I could not hit the brake without crushing Mama’s head) and proceeded to wait for opportunities to change lanes twice and make it onto the shoulder of the freeway. At the last critical moment, I used my left foot to move Mama’s head so I could apply the brake for a full stop.  After turning off the engine I got out of the drivers seat and reached for Mama. By this time she had three kittens attached to her!

After returning the escapees to the box and laying my windbreaker over the top of it again, I decided I would have to drive with my left arm and use my right to hold the windbreaker tightly on top of the box. There were some sad sounds coming from the box, as none of them could see Mama Cat. I kept reassuring them that we only had so far to go before I delivered them to “the land of milk and honey,” but they just complained louder.

Somehow, we managed to reach Boca Club, where Kim works. One of the residents at the condominiums she manages is a Veterinary Technician, who inspected Mama Cat and found her to be OK, just hungry. All the kittens were OK, too, except the white “runt” of the litter. His eyes were not fully opened because of some organic matter that was keeping his eyelids stuck together. She rinsed out his yes and he was fine. Four of the kittens are girls, only two are boys. The kittens may not be even two weeks old, yet. Within an hour Nurse Kim had provide them an automatic dry-food feeder (for Mama Cat), a water bowl, a litter box, a plastic tub with linens lining the bottom for their “hotel room,” and some kitty toys to play with.

I can’t fully express how proud I am of Mama Cat. She did a terrific job under extremely tough circumstances and was way too loveable for me to look at her in that overgrown yard and say “Sorry, Kid, can’t help you.” The Vet Tech says Mama is only about 8 or 9 months old, so this is her first litter. What a Trooper. In fact, I would name her “Trooper,” but she has already earned the superior title of “Mama Cat.”

Charles

The Grand Design

I have a book in my library called "The Grand Design." It is a rare book, bought when I collected rare books; only 115 copies were ever printed( which is why I bought it; I didn't know what it said)! It was written in 1971, and foretold the collapse of Eastern Germany and the Berlin Wall (1989). Many years before the event, this book outlined - step by step -  how the Berlin Wall would fall, and how the Soviet Union would also collapse - according to plan. It has 150 pages. This book is one of my most precious possessions, since it is so very unique (yes, it is in a VERY safe place). The author was, at the time, a low-level Russian (USSR) bearueacrat named "Yuri Andropov," later to become the USSR Ambassador to the US.

What does this book indicate? Politics is rigged. No surprise, right? But when you think about it, it is not just one government that is rigged, it is all of them. That means the world is rigged! Future history, past history, it is all rigged!

I have another book that is also "priceless." It is called "The Road We're On," and it solidly lays out the politices of the last 50 years, and the 50 years to come (The US is subjected to an Authoritarian Government that is backed by  Great Britan and Russia; they all attack a certain little Country!) Ineresting would be much of an understatement.

Don't worry. Just pray.

LAWD, HE'P THE CHILLUN'S!
Today is weird. Every day for the last MANY months has been weird, but today is really weird. There are terrorists in New York City, but they are all here to attend meetings at an organization originally founded to ensure "World Peace." Now that is weird.

Mohammar Qhuadafee (only one of the possible spellings in English) has pitched a tent on a property in a "posh" New Jersey suburb owned by the terrorist state he heads. They were allowed to buy this estate based on an agreement with the US State Dept. that Qhuadafee himself would never live, visit or stay there. Yet, there he is, for as long as the current session of the United Nations (yeah, right) lasts. Oh, and this radical "Koran Thumping" Muslim brought 50 young and very good looking girls with him as....bodyguards. They don't wear ghurkas that cover all but their eyes, but tight-fitting outfits that are "revealing," according to the press. Oh, and they wear baby-blue berets on their heads, and carry automatic machine guns that are illegal in New York City. He apparently has rights that US citizens don't. The US has the right to arrest him, as he was indicted in the World Court (The Hague) for terrorism against the US and other countries. Not gonna happen. In fact, he sat within 15 feet of our US President today; even closer to the Secret Service that has authority to arrest the terrorist bastard. I don't care who you are or what you believe, THAT is weird.

The puppet of the Ayatollah Khouhomani, "President" Ahbouminijab (not based on the popular Iranian elections) is also in NYC, having just a few days ago repeated his belief that Israel not only lacks the right to exist, but reiterated his mission of making sure they don't exist. What constitutes a criminal terrorist in this country today? Why is his head not mounted on the wall of the Oval Office? Because, things are weird in these United States of America.

The events of today and the last several months are offensive to me on many levels, but that doesn't matter; I am comfortable and my future is secure. But I worry about my children. I worry more about their children and their children's children. Our family is made up of many races and colors. We have in our beautiful and proud family people of Asian, White, Black, and Hispanic descent. We love them all, and we are all committed to being family. In my little town of Pascagoula we had friends of many "flavors," including our great friend Irene, a strong black lady, who used to say, "Lawd, he'p the chillun's." To that, we say simply, "Amen," and God, please get rid of all the weird!

$Dollar Collapse - Nearing The End

It's almost the Second Anniversary of the email below
that I sent to those I care about the most on  September 20, 2007. The $American Dollar collapsed on that date, for several reasons. It took a year for the impact to collapse Wall Street, September 14, 2008. In the last couple of days the $USD has dropped 20% from where it was YESTERDAY. It has dropped 97% from the date the following email was sent. Gold/Troy Ounce has topped at $1,030.00 once, in March of this year. Today, it went to $1,020.00 and was driven down by a "rise" in the value of the  $USD (as compared to other Western Nation currencies) and Profit Taking to $1,006.00 per Troy Ounce. These events point to obvious manipulations of both the $USD and the price of gold. Read the email from 9/20/2007:
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Today [09-20-2007], Osama Bin Laden "declared war" on Pres. Musharif of Afghanistan. Only "Heads of State" declare war. What does this mean?


Almost simutaneously, "President" (dictator) of Iran, Abouminijab, announced that he wanted to "Pay his respects" at "Ground Zero," of 9/11 and was refused. He vowed to go anyway! What Hubris! This guy obviously thinks he has a fully paid ticket to do whatever he wants. Hmmm, why does he believe that?

On Sept. 11, 2001 the World Trade Center (cognomin not insignificant) was attacked by two planes plunging into the two buildings. The loss of life was horrific. Yet, this was but a sign.

Before the attacks, an anomymous trade posted "puts" on the US stock market against several US airlines. Many believe Osama Bin Laden sold US airline stock short, in anticipation of the economic impact the attacks would have on the airlines. In other words, a HUGE "bet" was placed that said, "I bet the US airlines are going to lose money in the next several months." Of course they would: on 9/11 many hundreds of flights were immediately grounded after it was determined the US was under attack. Then, people did not want to fly as they imagined the worst. New TSA guidelines did not restore the desire to fly from one city to another. The large "bet" payed off really big. All US airlines still lose money. The only airline in the world attracting investors is in China. Another story.

The Wall Street crowd coined a new term based on the above events: the "BinLaden Trade." Several times in the last few years the markets responded to events that looked like "BinLaden Trades." This was exactly what Bin Laden wanted: control of the US markets.

Incredibly, Bin Laden has much in common with Communists and Socialists: The US is THE enemy. It is NORMAL and HUMAN to love our country, especially since our Constitution seems to favor the spread of the Gospel through FREE Speech. However, the Bible says we are "citizens of the Kingdom of God." I love the United States of America, but I also know that there are forces at work that are overtaking the "normal" American who has notan in-depth understanding of spiritual and Constitutional facts.

Between last week and today (Sept. 20, 2007) the US Dollar "fell" a full 13%!!!!

This is not a Recession. This is not a "pullback." The Dollar has collapsed. This has not happened since the early 1900's.

The US Dollar is worth less now than a week ago! The Canadian dollar ( the "Loonie") is worth as much as the US Dollar for the first time in 31 years (how old are you?)! It will go lower.

The housing market is in collapse. Foreclosures are at an all-time high and have not even gone "full steam." When the Fed dropped interest rates they only contributed to the fall of the Dollar. Who did that help? Each dollar in your pocket or bank account is now worth only 87 cents, and the Dollar is still falling.

Is it a coincidence that Bin Laden today (after two days of the US Dollar falling) declared war on a US "Ally," who we call a "Partner in the War on Terror/" NO!!! He knows that he is "in charge." So, what do we do now? It all looks pretty bad. Here are a few "facts."

1. Ben Ladin is not a fool, even if he has fooled others to die so that he may enrich himself even more. He is a billionaire, and as such realizes that he has only paper to back up his fortune. He has cash, but cannot cash out all of his holdings without devaluing them. He is restricted in every way from harming us, except for propoganda. Unfortunately, there are several candidates for US President that are willing to play into his hands. And Pakistan is vulnerable, as is Iraq. Because of personal greed.

2. England and other European countries will absorb much of the blow that Ben Ladin wants to deliver to the US, because they continued to bet on our economy (because of greed) while deserting our anti-terrorst efforts. Tony Blair understood, but is now out of the picture.

3. Ben Laden has "picked" Abouminijab of Iran to be his successor. You heard it from me first! Remember that. It will be very important in the next 12 months. If Ben Ladin expected to live or to continue dodging US efforts to capture/kill him he would not have "declared war" on Pakistan. He knows his days are numbered, and is making a desperate effort to continue to affect world events (because of greed).

4. Hard times in the US are unavoidable, because the Dollar has collapsed. Not tomorrow or the next day/week/month/year; yesterday. Spend nothing except what is necessary. Keep all you can. Tell "creditors" they will have to wait. Pay them with devalued Dollars, later.

It's tired and I am late, or something. I love you all and will help as much as I can.

By the way, Robert Kyosaki says that the US Dollar is designed to lose 80% every 40 years. That sounds very conservative, right now.

May God bless you,
Dad (Charles)
******************************
OK, this is not an "I told you so." But, to update the info that was in that 9/20/2007 email, here are a few more things that have happened:
n
September 8, 2008 (Last year): Stocks began to be shorted (sold) in unprecedented rates beginning around Midnight  (very early morning). At the same time, cash was being withdrawn from Money Market Funds at an unrivaled and unprecedented pace ($550 $Billion in 5 hours!). This is a strange combination, as stock sales usually result in additional deposits in Money Market funds (a parking place for cash; used to hold proceeds from sales of stocks or other financial instruments). Trades were traced to New York City; London, England; Paris, France a(nd LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (where is Obama?). These unusual events overloaded the computer systems of the SEC, the Fed, and other financial institutions/watchdogs around the world. In order to avoid a financial "Bank Run, or Panic," the governments of the world panicked! Bottom line: All governments began to "PRINT"  so-called "money." This leads to devaluation of any currency, and eventual inflation or "hyperinflation."

Bottom Line:
1. Obama is physically dead, and the US is just not sure about it, yet (a few days ago, there were announcements that "Osama Bin Laden's Brother Has Passed Away," (but there has never been a mention of him having a 'brother' before!). Abouminijab of Iran has already "taken the reins," evidenced by the fact that he is still in power after several years, in spite of much opposition in his own country, and he is increasingly emboldened to verbally threaten Israel and act in opposition to any "United Nations" or "NATO" demands, AND is being allowed to further Iran's nuclear weapons enrichment program (and they are doing what about it?). Oh, yeah; Obama just pulled the plug on a missile defense system for EurAsia, where we have Hundreds of Thousands of Troops! WTF?
2. If you don't agree that Bin Laden is dead, you must agree that the $USD is dead; buy gold and silver with all you have, or all you can sell to get it. Gold and Silver will go up and down, but not to  $0.00, which is where the $USD is headed. Buy on "dips" and sell on "rallies".  Just buy crap at pawn shops, if that is all you can do!!!
3. Get out of debt as quickly as possible, if you have any.
4. May God bless you and the Unites States of America!

CFS

AMERICA REMEMBERS 9.11

And don't ever forget the cause;
The evil men with dire resolve
the World would have us now absolve:
The Taliban in Afghanistan,
Al-Queada's web spread like a fan.

Born in palaces jeweled and grand,
And yet portrayed as ragged men,
Whose cause is pure, and outrage just,
Disguising, crudely, violent lust.
They murder leagues of innocents,
Encouraged by our reticence
To engage them on their terms.
But by the grace of the one true God,
We exploded en masse upon their sod
And answered if our resolve was firm.

My children, and grandchildren,
My sisters and brothers,
Cousins, and in-laws
And all American others,
Forget not, evil has strong allies
Who give no pause to utter lies
To hide their true intent.
Let’s bind this fact to unfailing hearts
Ne'er again to fall prey to destructive arts.
Unflagging, continue paying them back;
Crying with everlasting assent,
“In Afghanistan, as it is in Iraq!”

Charles Seamen
Fort Worth, TX
September 11, 2009

A Loss Returned


A man just doesn’t know what twists and turns his life may make. No matter how strongly he believes, or how hard he works, things don’t always turn out the way a man thinks they will. It seems that some of God’s plans cannot be fulfilled in the way we think. Destiny is a complicated matter, and just because God says “Go in this direction,” does not mean that He won’t issue new directions later. Some of these redirections are slight, others are major, and some will shake a man to his very core. Especially when it appears that he has lost something so precious that he fears it will never be returned.

This happened to a man I know. He had spent most of his life trying to know God, and to follow Him as best he could and trust Him with all of his heart. However, this did not deliver him from the crisis he was to go through, or the huge toll it would take on him.

The exact nature of this crisis and the details of what brought it on are not as important as the fact that it happened, and it happened at a very bad time. This man was a dad with four children. The youngest child did not have the chance to get to know her dad that her three siblings had, as his job kept him away a lot. Not only that, but the crisis that had been building for years was taking a toll on him. He did not handle this burden very well, and spent whatever time he had with alcohol, trying to anesthetize the aching in his soul. He made the crisis worse by doing this, and he discovered much too late that he had also squandered what he had not understood to be precious time with his youngest daughter. As bad as all this was, these were not his only wrongs. Later, he understood that whatever hardship resulted from all he had done wrong, it was up to him to accept the results, and not to make it worse by tying to fighting them.

Ultimately, a time came when this dad no longer lived in the same house as his children. It was very difficult to adjust to coming home to a silent and empty apartment, as he was used to a house full of children. He missed their laughter and the sound of their play. When he went to bed, he could not first go to the rooms of his children and kiss their foreheads as they slept. He could still pray for them, and he did, but he could not touch their cheeks like he used to, while he prayed. He hurt deeply inside because he knew that this was how it was to be, and it would never, ever change back to the way it was.

When he prayed he would pray for each of his children individually. He would smile as he thought of each one. When he prayed for his youngest, his smile would not last long, because he felt that he had cheated her by not being a better dad and by not being there for her at times when he should have. After he had finished praying for his children he would always ask God to forgive him, but for a long time he did not feel that he was forgiven for falling short, both as a husband and as a dad.

He was able to occasionally visit with his children and to do things with them, and he always enjoyed them. The youngest daughter was understandably more distant than the others, and always in the biggest hurry to get back to her mom. Each time he saw her it seemed like the divide he had created in his relationship with this daughter had widened. He tried not to show his sadness about this to her or the other children because he knew this was part of the price he had to pay, for all of a man’s decisions have consequences.

He prayed about the empty place in his heart that only this daughter could ever fill, but he could not have peace in his heart about it. He asked God to be with his youngest, and to protect her and keep her safe in his absence. He asked God to someday let him have this daughter back. It took many, many prayers before he felt that somehow God would let him have a good relationship with this daughter, but still he felt that it would take quite a while. He knew inside that she would have to grow up first. He was very concerned and asked his Heavenly Father why it might take so long. The only answer he seemed to get was, “You must be patient until the proper time comes.” When he pleaded for the Lord to hasten the process, he was told “Your children will be adults a lot longer than they will be children. You must make some necessary changes in your life so that you will be able enjoy them as adults.”

One night when this man was reading the Bible he read a story that had been familiar to him for a long time, but now struck him very differently. It was about the joy of a woman who had ten pieces of silver, but had lost one of them. It caused her to sweep her entire house, and she finally found the missing piece of silver. Her joy was such that she ran to tell all of her neighbors. He cried as he realized that God was making him “sweep his own house,” to clean up his life and put it back in order, so that he would be properly prepared for a renewed relationship with his youngest daughter.

One day very much later he again saw his youngest daughter. He was thinking of how young she was and how vulnerable she was. But she was not acting as young anymore. She looked at him to tell him something and he realized that she had matured tremendously, and very quickly. In a moment that could only be ordained by God, she began to talk to him and let the feelings that he had known were there for so many years become words. Then, both of their words became tears. Through these tears came healing to both of them, and the healing brought them both joy and laughter. They hugged and cried and then held each other tighter and laughed, for they had missed each other so very much for so very long. Her dad had a wonderful new feeling of closeness to her.

What was so precious to him and had seemed so distant for so long had finally been returned to him. The joy this brought him was much greater than he had ever even imagined it would be.

I pray for all fathers that have experienced what this man experienced. Only with tremendous grace upon our lives can any man avoid making such wrong choices and having to pay so dearly for so long because of them. This man does not dwell on his past suffering. In fact, all of that suffering has now been replaced with great joy. He had squandered one of God’s most precious gifts because of his pride and his weakness, but his Heavenly Father had not let him suffer forever. That was precious grace, to have the suffering end. But he not only got that, he also received new joy because, even though he could never have done anything to deserve it, God was gracious enough to return that wonderful gift to him. There are few joys like the joy of a gift returned. And there is no gratitude sufficient for God’s grace.

Happy birthday, Bebee Girl. I love you very much.

Last Friday, the following conversation took place between our daughter Stephanie and her son (our grandson), Christoper:

C. - Mom, I'm supposed to write a sentence every day for Kindergarten. I didn't do one, yesterday.

S. - Then you need to do two sentences, today.

C. - Will you help me?

S. Yes, I will help.

(During the process, Christopher became frustrated and said something Stephanie considered inappropriate)

S. - That's it. I'm done. I don't help ugly little boys.

C. - I'm not ugly. Everyone says I'm cute.

S. - I'm not talking about your looks, I'm talking about your personality.

C. - What's a personality?

S. - Well, I really mean your attitude.

C. - What's an attitude?

S. - (Gruffly) Right now it means the way you behave when things aren't going your way!!

(Pause)

C. - Well, your attitude isn't that good right now, either!

While the surprising level of apprehension shown by a boy that will be 6 years old in another week is astonishing and even humorous, this event could be a tremendous life lesson for Christopher. Motivational speakers have been known to say, "Your attitude determines your altitude." While accurate as well as snappy, that (somewhat) witty saying borders on egregious simplification.

Anyone who has been in the workforce for more than a few weeks knows that attitude can earn you a promotion, or cost you a job. My belief is that attitude is a matter of life and death. Attitude can determine the success of your marriage as well as your job. It can also determine whether you catch Swine Flu, or get through the epidemic unscathed. Do you want to avoid cancer? If you do, watch your attitude. I smoke but, with Gods help, I will not harbor hate or a grudge. "Vengance is mine, sayeth the Lord." You'd better take heed of that statement. Anger and bitterness feed cancer. Research shows that cancer resides in all of us, but unless and until our immune sytem misdirects, lies dormant. Hmmm, sounds very similar to sin, doesn't it?

We all have thoughts that come to mind, but if we don't allow them to "make themselves at home," they cannot take root and affect our actions. Our will is not enough to keep us from sinning, any more than our will can keep us from feeling pain. Attitude can do both, although it may take years of training; what keeps martial arts masters from being affected by or showing pain is their attitude. Oh, they feel it, just not like the untrained feel it. Their training teaches "pain must not show (which would give the opponent's confidence), and must not slow" (their next move, usually calculated to drain the opponent's confidence). As most, this attitude is obtained through a series of defeats, not successes. I thank God for my successes, but three times more for my defeats. Your defeats define you, your successes reward you.

After becoming a Journeyman Marine Electrician in Mississippi (a defining accomplishment which proved to me, "I can"), I moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where there are no shipyards. After struggling through some really bad "jobs," I was convinced by a friend to become a mason (bricklayer) by going through yet another four-year apprenticeship. To this day my bricklaying apprenticeship is my favorite job ever! You went to work and there was a foundation; you left work and could see a wall. Such satisfaction! Such fellowship! You earned respect - and money - through hard work. Such pride in ones self! Unfortunately, in that time, you could not lay masonry when the temperature was under 32 degrees! They do it in the northern US, but back then the technology had not been mastered in "North Texas." I had to go back to being an electrician, but that eventually led to greater things than I could have imagined.

When I started on my second apprenticeship, that of a mason, we worked five days a week and went to "apprenticeship school" on Tuesdays and Thursdays - just like my Electricians Apprenticeship. Long frikkin' days! For the first month, it seems, more likely it was two weeks, we learned only "how to hold a trowel." The trowel is important, and 99% of us have only one dominant hand; the hand that will earn us the most money. Protecting that hand is most important, so holding your trowel correctly, swiveling your hips correctly, using your legs to lift, etc. would determine whether you everntually retired as a success or had to live on disability insurance, starting in your 30's. In the following weeks we learned that "callouses are your friends," how to measure and lay out a wall, build a wall straight, plumb and level, how to mix and properly temper mortar, and a host of other things. It was all great! I truly loved it, and studied hard.

Finally, the night came when we were all given specifications and instructed to build a 4' X 4' wall. Our excitement could barely be matched by a four-year-old on Christmas morning. We all began to eagerly construct our walls. When I had completed only two courses of bricks on my wall, I heard the instructor utter an expletive and the sound of bricks and mortar hitting the bare concrete floor. "Your wall is not straight, apprentice!" *SLAM* I turned my head and saw a 20-something guy on the verge of tears. I resolved not to make the same mistake. There were repeats of the first rebuke; "your wall is not plumb!" Crash. "Your wall is mismeasured!" Crash. "your mortar is not tempered!" Crash. On and on it went, but my confidence was building because I knew my 4' X 4' wall was turning out PERFECT. Mortar; perfect. Straightness; perfect. Plumb? Perfect. Measurement; perfect. This wall could last as long as the Pyramids, it was THAT PERFECT! And...my first-ever wall! I had a great future in this field! I knew it! My studies had paid off! *CRASH* WTF?

My beloved wall was as destroyed as the others, but just a bigger mess. I knew it was a good wall. It was a great wall. It was the Best Wall in the class, for goodness sake! My eyes finally met the eyes of my instructor, who said, "Seamen, you weren't holding your trowel right!" I had to admit he was correct. I had to drive 30 miles home that night with his words echoing in my ears.

I had to abandon my masons apprenticeship due to lack of income in cold weather. Being an electrician is not bad when you find your niche, which I eventually did. That led to the use of the electronics training I had received while at the shipyard; to sales and a six-figure income. One day I had an issue with a boss who obviously did not appreciate the fact that I was responsible for half of his income. It pissed me off. While driving home and turning the events of the day over and over in my head (definitely not in "prayer" mode) I heard an unmistakable Voice. I had heard it before, and knew Who it was. He did not quote Scripture, or give me a vision of His love. He simply said, "Seamen, you weren't holding your trowel right." I knew what He meant immediately, and was able to find repentance. Salvation followed (my "boss" got fired).

Final thought: Attitude according to the "Funk and Wagnell's Dictionary" (my favorite just because of the name) comes from the Latin word "aptus," which means "suited, or fitted." Are you suited for the situation? Your attitude can tell you. Attitude is different from "Pose," which means you are placing yourself in a certatin position such as for a picture, and "Position," which may or may not mean you are expressing your thoughts via how your body is arranged.

Also, the  "attitude" of an airplane determines whether it is headed at, above or below the horizon. Hey, "attitude/altitude"

My "position" is that you should "pose" yourself this question several times per day; what is my attitude?

Hear This

armageddon

ARMAGEDON!

Wow, I'm Now a Blogger

Look out, everybody, there's a new blogger in town. As if the world needed more of them. Well, apparently it did because I could no longer hold inside some of the things I have long pondered. I calculate that this is the best way to get some feedback on some of my private thoughts, just in case the "Mental Health" clause in my Health Insurance actually needs to be utilized. Like the folks at my favorite news channel; I'll report, you decide.

As a taste of what we all might be in for, here is a little film clip for you to enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwL_zi9JNkE

Listen carefully. There WILL be a test, later.

CFS