Angel is ok and survived IKE
Category: Blogging

I am posting this for Angel per her request to let everyone know that she is fine and survived Ike. She sounded in good spirits when she called me this morning to let me know she is ok. Angel and her mom rode out the storm and are both doing well. She said that it may be a while before she has power and phone. She is also trying to get off the island for a few days. However after talking to her Dusti told me that they are not letting anyone over the bridge until they check it out from all the damage. So I am not sure Angel knew about that.

I am hoping to hear from Angel again soon and I will pass on all information I have at that time. Feel free to leave comments or drop her a line so she has something to read when she is back up and running.

She was concerned about all those of you out there that are worried about her and asked that you not worry because she is ok and doing fine.

I speak for not only myself and Dusti but countless others out here when I say that we look forward to your return to the internet and pray that things go smoothly for you and your mom.

If you have any questions you can address them to me at www.myspace.com/floatinginastream or leave a post here. I will check on her page from time to time until she is back. I will also pass along any info for her as I get it.

Be safe my friends and have a wonderful week!

Patty and Dusti

7:19 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Marriage Vows 9-14-08
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Marriage Vows Sermon 9-14-08

     All Relationships have their ups and downs. There are arguments and disagreements. There are times when illness and emotional distress impact on the people in our lives. There are times where money and resources are not used the same way by people close to us. There are even times when no amount of money seems enough. One Partner might hold all the money cards along with the purse strings.

     In our childhoods we can not help but be dependent on our caregivers and Parents for comfort and basic needs. In friendships we often have an ebb and flow of comfort in a more level fashion. In our choices of Life Mates/ Partners and Spouses we expect our needs to be met by the Partner as equals.

     There is someone I know at work who constantly talks about her Husband in a way I frankly find Offensive. They have 3 children. They have been married for 20 years. The kids are now grown and away at College and working on their lives.

     When she speaks about her children she tells of all the things she has done for them. They are good kids by all accounts and doing well in getting set up as adults. She does expect something back for all she has done for them of her own free will. She once said that she was glad that her daughter had a couple of jobs so she could pay her back the money she gave her to go to school. The daughter is still in College. I ask myself why she gave the money to her daughter if it was not a gift.

     When her sons want to visit her apartment which is close to the beach and night life with a date she lets them. However there is a strange reluctance on her part. She tells us if he wants a Love Nest he should either go to a hotel or pay her the amount for staying at her place. If it bothers her why doesn't she just say "No, I do not want a stranger in my home." She just complains about it to us.

     When the kids want to visit they must "pay" her by taking her out to eat. When she wants them to visit she bribes them by cooking their favorite dishes.

     She tells every Female she knows to get the guy to pay for sex. She lectures at length that the way to make a relationship work is to keep the guy at bay but tease the hell out of them. She then teaches these females that when the guys are willing to pay for the attention give as little as possible since it is a valuable "commodity". She calls anyone who gives affection, attention and comfort freely to their mate or spouse a fool. Her core belief system is an emotional and sexual Quid Pro Quo. She even treats her husband this way.

     I do not know if her Marriage started with Love or Impulse. In the long run it has turned into Glorified Prostitution. Her favorite Phrase is "Show me the Money". She detests her Husband so much that she has moved into an apartment close to our work to be away from him. The Husband still thinks this move is a temporary separation. He still believes it is just getting their next smaller place set up since the kids are grown. She will never let him move in. She has even told us this.

     When any man enters her personal space she flirts outrageously; then pushes them away joking "what are you going to give me, man." When they ignore her she pushes into them to force their attention back to her. She has men buying her Breakfast and sodas constantly. I have no idea if it has gotten to the point of money exchanges yet. I do not know if sexual favors are exchanged for this money. To all extent and purposes she is already a Prostitute.

     I do know that unless her Husband brings gifts and money when he visits her in "her" apartment, he does not get to go to bed with her. She has had this sexual Quid Pro Quo with her Husband a very long time, maybe the entire relationship. She chortles that when she does a Good Job in bed he leaves a wad of cash on her dresser in the morning.

     I am very sad about this relationship. It has no ear marks of a relationship where God has a place in it. I wonder if she used the Traditional Vows when she married her Husband. I like those vows with some personal statement attached. There is a reason that those vows are the ones most commonly used. They sum up the relationship in most of the relationship's possible ups and downs.

     The idea behind the Marriage Vows is simple. The vows acknowledge the possibility of sickness changing the dynamics of a relationship. It also points to the up side that good health should not be taken for granted but embraced as an opportunity to build a stronger relationship.

     These vows remind couples that money may not always be available. In addition I think it also points to the idea that one partner may not make as much money, thereby impacting the resources available to the couple. These vows remind us that money can also be a great divider. How many times have you heard of couples splitting up because one of them hit a huge Mega Million dollar Jackpot? In these times the supposedly greener grass can look very tempting. People who you might find fascinating some how now find you wonderful company now that you have a little money to throw around.  The relationship you are in may not stand much of a chance with these interlopers driving a wedge in the relationship.

     These Vows also point to Fidelity. The Phrase "forsaking all others" seems to have lost a great deal in translation over the years. It means you do not entice or encourage people who might be taking what is rightfully your Mate's. This part of the vow is much more far reaching than sex. It means sharing the good and the bad times. It means communicating your needs and desires to your mate. If the first person you reach for when things get tough is outside of your couple you are taking from your mate. It might even mean that they have no idea that there is a problem until suddenly you just up and leave. This gives them no opportunity to work things out, to help you, to understand where you are coming from.

     The last part of the Vows is a pale shadow of its former understanding. It states that the Couple will plan to be together until they Die. In this age of Serial Monogamy the idea of growing old and dying together only seems to be truly sought when we have exhausted the supply of fresh healthy, rich, tolerant potential mates. If you take the time to learn about your potential mate before hopping into bed right away, you can be more selective in your choice of who you Marry. Then the idea of growing old and probably sick together and supporting each other when money problems come up is a Joyous thing not the burden some people have made it.  

God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions.

Angel Eliza

11:13 AM - 4 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

Drained Faith 9-7-08
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Drained Faith 9-7-08

     In this day and age we have so many advances we should feel greatly Blessed. It is interesting that as Technology provides ways to heal the sick, feed the hungry and give us unheard of luxuries; we have lost much of our Wonder in God's works.

     In times of dire need people often turn to the comfort and certainty of something bigger than us. When survival itself is marginal it seems easier for people to reach beyond themselves for the comfort of God. We like to feel that we are under someone's protection.  When life gets comfortable, safe and we become too risk averse we repeat History in a big way. Here is a verse from the Old Testament that will illustrate.

     Malachi 1:6 "A son honors his father and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am the master, where is the respect?

     In Malachi's time God asks where the Love and Devotion have gone. It is a time of great prosperity for the Jewish Tribes. They are not at war. They are not hungry.  The Misery of Exodus is long faded along with the solutions God provided to ease or eliminate those ordeals. The generations that fought for a place in the land of Canaan are long dead.

     These Descendents have a Home. They have all the physical needs of their time met. They have come to believe the thanks and accolades belong to their own efforts and works. Much like our self satisfied fog of today, they have gotten lazy in acknowledging where their Blessing flows from. Their sins are not big sins but their devotion burner has turned down many notches to a lukewarm of Apathy. They go through the motions without any Heart behind it. The meaning behind their sacrifices and devotion are colorless and dull.

     Did that description sound familiar? It should. The Developed World is living in unprecedented Prosperity. We leave Water running when not needed. We throw away tons of food each year for the average household. For the time being we have a pretty good handle on the diseases that used to kill whole Populations. I have heard a phrase that sums it up. "I Got Mine."

     We argue over the benefit of vaccines that might cause side effects; while forgetting the horrible loss of life from what are called Childhood Diseases. They had made childhood a very tenuous time to fight, to survive. Until recently, except for immigrants from Countries where they do not vaccinate, it became rare to even see these diseases. There are Practicing Drs who have never seen any of them. The recent flair ups of these diseases have been the backlash of the easy life we now consider our due. Faith suffers when things are too cushy. Devotion turns to Apathy when "I Got Mine."

     I have envisioned Satan as a worm sometimes. He is a tapeworm to be exact. It all starts with a small segment being ingested. It finds a nice stretch of intestine and digs in. It stays there growing longer by adding segments. It feeds unnoticed by the person it is attached to. It eats food that you eat. Silently the Tapeworm is stealing your nourishment. There are rarely any symptoms until it is quite large. Sometimes the first someone notices is segments in their shit. I even heard of a fellow that thought it was a string hanging out, and pulled. That got his attention sending him quickly to the Dr. Lucky for him there is a poison that kills the Tapeworm.

     Losing your faith can happen in a similar fashion. All it needs is a seed of Doubt to start it growing. Every adversity feeds this growing parasite. Each event by themselves are often little and inconsequential. The foothold that Satan gets must be discovered quickly to keep it from growing like the tapeworm. It takes turning the little stuff as well as the big stuff over to God. As long as people have Worshiped God, God has offered this support many times, we just think we can do it all ourselves. As a result we do not ask for help. We don't ask for help for the small things. We are often heavily infested by the time we think to ask for help with the big stuff.

     Here is a verse that may help you visualize the problem in a more external way.  

     RGoT 97 Jesus said, "The World is like the woman who carried a sack of grain that sprang a leak. It was a leak she did not see. When she got home all the grain had run out and the sack was empty. Guard against The Thief and The Liar. You never know when they will come to poke a hole in your faith, leaving you empty without understanding how it happened.

     I would never advocate going back to a time of rampant plagues. I enjoy having safe food and clean water. I feel Blessed that my Brother's kids will not have to go through the many illnesses I fought through just to survive as a child. They get immunized to prevent a repeat of my childhood. A big dose of Wonder at the works of God can immunize us against Satan's infections.

     Malachi reminds us not take things we are blessed to have for granted. The Apathy that is so much a part of our lives reflects our comfort. A people who feel self sufficient will not ask for help. We do not feel our vote matters. We think we have no say in our governments. This is in spite of the Constitution calling for us to be a conscious people. The Constitution calls for our government to be in our control, "By the People and For the People." If our Government is not working we throw the bums out and hire some new folks. We should hold our Representatives to account, because what they do is in our name. Apathy is a sure way to get a dictator.

     When things are going well, you must stay vigilant. That is when Satan will be the most active. If you rebuke Satan even in the petty things you will be protecting yourself from the small hole in your grain sack. By staying vigilant you check your sustenance of the Grain sack to repair the hole should one sneak up on you. The Gifts that God gives you are not for dribbling away for Satan to feed upon.

     Hard times seem to naturally draw people to appreciate God more. It is like the analogy of the child parent relationship though. If the only time you hug your parent is in adversity you have let the possible everyday joys fritter away. Hug God every day, not just when you want something. You are developing a relationship, not an Automatic Teller Machine, withdrawing only when you want something.

     I suggest an attitude of Wonder. The Wonder of a small child goes a very long way in building that relationship with God. Look for God's Love manifested everywhere. Cultivate an attitude of gratefulness even if a small part of you does not think God had anything to do with your comfort. This is your immunization against the occasional tapeworm segment. When Evil enters your life take the time to recognize them as being sent to poke a hole in your faith.

God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions.

Angel Eliza

12:46 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Miracles 8-31-08
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Miracles 8-31-08

     Most Christian Denominations believe in Miracles in some form. The Church of Thomas sees Miracles as constant reminders of God's Love and presence. The Definition of a Miracle is: Something that occurs beyond the Laws of Nature. There is variation of this definition that calls for a Human Agent to facilitate the Miracle. We do not believe there needs to be an Agent to have a Miracle manifest.

     An example of an Agent would be Moses asking for God to judge the Egyptians with the plagues. The next act of Moses; with God's strength, was parting the Red Sea. The next Miracle was Provisions of food and water for the people who had escaped from slavery in Egypt. Without these Miracles the Jews would have continued in slavery. They would have been slaughtered at the waters edge. They would have starved to death before making their way to the Promised Land.

     Jesus had many healings that are counted among the Miracles he did. He was reported to calm a storm. He walked on water. He raised the dead in the form of his good friend Lazarus. Jesus slipped in and out of dangerous situations where he should have been arrested. Jesus fed people from meager stores of food. He also changed the makeup of Water to Wine.

     There are many examples of Miracles throughout the Bible. They inspire those who believe in them. If you saw a Miracle how would it affect you? Would you want to find out what "really" happened? Would you give credit where it belongs or applaud a wonderful performance? Jesus saw the shortcomings and drawbacks of Miracles first hand. Some Verses that illustrate these concerns of Jesus follow.

      In Mathew 11:20-24 Jesus criticized the cities that saw and benefited from Jesus' Miracles. He mentions that if Sodom had the benefited from seeing these Miracles they would not have needed to be destroyed. They would have turned from sin with half the evidence of God's Love.

     In Mark 3:10-3:12 Jesus tried to remain anonymous. He tries to inspire the faithful and not become a spectacle. Unfortunately, the people Jesus healed found it very hard to keeping it to themselves. They told everyone they could about what wonders Jesus did. They told Jesus' Enemies about what he did. As a result Jesus became what he sought so hard not to be. He became a Celebrity, a Star, and a Performer. So many people showed up that he had to go offshore in a boat to speak without being pursued. Everyone wanted to see the Show.

     Jesus knew that the image of being a Magician doing Magic was what drew these crowds not an interest in learning about God. Jesus felt Miracles Affirm faith in people ready to see it. Those that were not ready would only see a show. In those people it does not create faith.

     The Pharisees sought to associate Jesus with Magic and support from Demons. The response Jesus gave was later used by Abraham Lincoln to mend a Nation. "A House divided against it's self can not stand." Jesus was saying that if he hurt bound and cast out Demons he could not be working with them because it would divide Satan's House.

     In Luke 11:29-11:32 Jesus chided the Jews in their ever bigger call for Miracles. It needed reinforcing constantly like the flagging faith they experienced during the Exodus. Jesus had better success pulling the Faithful from the Gentiles because it took far less Miracles to have the same effect of strengthening faith. They were not Jaded by being blessed all along by Miracles.

     We in the Church of Thomas do not do Healing in public, because it is not for show. It is meant as a reaffirmation of God's Love. The ones that put on a great show are mostly if not all Charlatans. Jesus taught another way. We never accept money or "Donations" for doing God's will. We might testify as to what we felt and experienced, but we do not parade the healed around to drum up more business.

     Unfortunately the people most likely to go to a Charlatan are at the end of their hope. They are desperate to find relief, healing and renewal. I have known many people who went from one of these "healers" to another Thinking that they just have not found the right one.

     In these shows Every Single ailing person is Shaking and being Banged on the head. And purportedly Everyone has been healed. Sometimes these "healers" will put a fake in among the hopefuls. This person is called a shill. They are all crippled up when they go up, then they throw away their crutches dramatically and walk all over the stage giving credit to the "Healer".

     In my experience there is a real disconnect between what I see in these Shows and what I have felt. The first difference is I do not know God will Allow the Healing. That is God's Will. I can do nothing without that permission. All of what I have felt has gone through me, not from me. I know the difference because at one time I used my own strength to heal. It was not even a candle compared to The Sun comparing the difference. Like a pipe that funnels healing; my experience was mostly as just a pipeline, not an active agent.

     Because I do not want people to be disheartened if the desire I have to heal is not supported by God, I generally do not tell them. The healing is sometimes a gradual lessening of Symptoms. There was one time that it was very dramatic. Verification for that person did not come until she had an x-ray proving what we both already felt.

     There was a man that shared a story of being beaten because he was Gay. They had a baseball bat. Even after the Drs did what they could, he still had a badly damaged knee and a detached retina. I felt such Love for this man that I took his hand while he talked about his ordeal. I just wanted to comfort him. I asked God to ease his pain, nothing specific. He did feel comforted by my holding his hand at the time. He was the one who later told me what had been the more long term results of my compassion.

     His Dr. was going to schedule a procedure to reattach his retina. During the appointment it was discovered that it was healed already. His knee was also almost healed in those few days between when I met him and his appointment.

     Last, it is not me. It is God. When credit is given I take a really far back seat. Miracles unfold in God's time, with God's Will. It is up to the Faithful to not exaggerate but to share what we have experienced. It is our role to see the miracles and not the "Shows".

God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions.

Angel Eliza 

1:23 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

History of Slavery 8-24-08
Category: Religion and Philosophy

History of Slavery 8-24-08

     Throughout History there have been people taking the Liberty of other People. All cultures have trafficked in slaves. The impact on the lives of the slaves varied. Some slavery was meant to subdue conquered people. Taking slaves showed the conquered what could happen if they did not behave.

     Slavery as an Institution has serious drawbacks as an Economic work force. Slavery moves into the Economically feasible if you have an endless supply of fresh slaves to fill spaces as your expendable workforce is disabled or die.

     Some cultures used slaves as an expendable commodity to appease gods. Hawaiian deities often called for the sacrifice of their slaves. They were called the Walking Dead, because their lives were forfeit anytime the masters chose. The Aztecs also had a sacrifice of slaves gained in battle to be the blood sacrifice for their worship.

     The Romans had a bounty of war slaves from peoples they conquered. They used an expedient of turning many of these slaves into Legions to fight their own peoples and future conquered. The Romans also had the expendable version to man Galley ships, they generally died quickly. Some could earn their freedom through the training to be a Gladiator. Very few lived long enough but both men and women gained freedom in this fashion.

     Jews were also made slaves by Egypt. It is a great deal cheaper to let the slaves find their own food and housing. It frees the owners from the need to spend money on "Unnecessary" maintenance. If they lived, they lived if they died there were more waiting to be pressed into service. Without the bricks, stone cutting skills, and labor of the Jews no pyramid would have gotten built before the death of the Pharaoh it was to house or the granary to hold the stored grain.

     In the raids of the Vikings many prisoners were made slaves. An interesting twist in this slavery system was that like some Native American Tribes a Slave could gain status and freedom through heroic Actions and Loyalty. If a slave fought side by side with their owners they could prove to be valuable additions to the tribe. When they were freed they were of equal standing with their now fellow tribe members.

     I have been dismayed by the constant focus on people in the USA who have an ancestor who had been a slave. It is highlighted as an Us Against Them situation many times alienating the very people who otherwise would be sympathetic. Some of my family is descended Native American. And some are of Jewish Descent. The Native Americans proved to be very poor slaves. They were just killed off the old fashioned way by disease. As far as I know there is no African Descent blood in my family but it would not be seen as negative if there was.

     In the arguments I hear regularly there are many falsehoods. For one thing the Africans who were sold to Europeans were enslaved by fellow Africans. To blame Europeans for slavery in general is misleading. They bought the slaves because they were cheap expendable labor, they did not start it. The Africans had; like every other culture in the World had; bought and sold other people for 10,000 years.  Slavery is still practiced today in many parts of the World.

     I recently saw a documentary about slaves being sold in the open by just about anyone you asked. The Documentary was an expose of the slave market just off our USA Coastline. It was filmed in Haiti. The reporter wanted to examine how easy it would be to buy a child in Haiti. A meeting was set up with a couple of notable officials. Though the price varied wildly it was well within the means of most Americans who could afford to travel to Haiti. The bitter Irony here is the sellers were all black. The Irony comes from Haiti's History. It is governed and populated almost solely by the Descendants of Liberated Slaves.

     On top of that it was so well entrenched as a way of life that the purchase of a child "broken in" for sex could be had for $100 dollars. All of the waiters in the area when the "officials" did their negotiating later offered lower prices with no hassle. They were falling all over themselves to provide a sex slave child to the reporter.

     It was so much a way of life in Haiti that nothing was done when the local Child Protective Service was informed of a child they had identified as a slave who was also being beaten and mistreated. The Social Workers did not return the calls. These Social Workers are all Black too. The Minister who Preached against slavery had "Adopted" the slave he had Purchased.

     Some examples may shed some light on the practice of modern slavery. Cocoa Beans are mostly harvested by enslaved children in Africa. Those beautiful rugs and silver items from India are often woven or crafted by slaves who are mostly women and children. In Asia the Child Sex Industry is powered by children sold to pay their parents debts. When a Pedophile wants to party this is where they have gone for many years. In Japan the "Cure" for HIV had been advertised as having sex with an untouched little girl. Non Japanese Asian girls were bought for this very purpose.

     Cheap clothing for a whole range of price tags is produced in China and India by slaves that are sometimes called sweatshop workers. Many of the cheap products we love to purchase have origins based on some form of slave labor.

     In the USA, the slavery that exists comes in basically 2 forms. The Illegal Immigrant workers from Mexico and Latin America fill a very low paid niche that needs to toe the line or be sent back where there are no jobs. The other groups are from any Country where slavery is still practiced. The easiest way to have a "Domestic Worker"; who will not move on is a slave. Some of the worst offenders in this trafficking are the very people who say it is wrong to enslave others. There have been notable Politicians and Business people who when investigated were found to have "Hired" undocumented nannies and housekeepers. When the papers these slaves arrived with are confiscated they become slaves.

     If you will notice 99 percent of the Slavery is accepted in the culture involved. The Slaves and the slavers are almost always of the same race, religion, and background. Much of the slavery is expressed as a financial necessity. Families sell their Daughters and sons for sex and labor. An inability to stop having children is also seen as a root cause.

      Slavery is wrong, it always has been. Slavery is a current event not in the blighted past. If you had Ancestors who were enslaved be grateful for your freedom. There are many who did not survive to have any Descendants at all. Make the most of your gift of Freedom. There are many people who deserve attention who are still enslaved. These are the people I want to free.

God Bless the Whole World, No exceptions.

Angel Eliza

7:10 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

God’s Protection 8-17-08
Category: Religion and Philosophy

God's Protection Sermon 8-17-08 ..TR> ..TABLE>

 

6:24 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

As many of you already know, God sends help in the form of Angels. We Pray for protection and we are shielded from harm. Sometimes we get Protection just because we are doing the work that God wants done.  I have experienced both of these forms of protection.      Every time I get behind the Wheel of my car I pray that God Guides my hand. In a way I feel this sums up a willingness to go where I might be needed because God Guides my hand to possibly detour from my normal course. Most times I go directly to where I willed my driving to take me.      On rare occasions I have felt drawn to go a different route or not even to where I wanted to go. I find something that needs attention when I am detoured. One time it was a homeless woman who had a child that was having a seizure. She had no vehicle and no money. There would have been no way for her to get the child to the hospital. I put the backseats down so she could hold him without injury. He had spiked a fever that caused him to react this way.      There was another time that I helped change a tire for a woman. I don't know if there was more to it. I just knew I was to keep my eyes open. God would show me what to do.      My prayer to guide my hand has also kept me safe. There was a period of time that unsavory people would trying to use the normal foggy thinking most people drive in to try to injure me. I have found that they had little trouble doing this because most people get into the car and promptly Zone out. There is little by the way of defensive driving. Sometimes the 3 other things they are doing are more important than keeping their mind focused on driving. Add to that the tendency of many modern folks to be sleep deprived from choices they have made.      Anyway I wanted God's hand to be my backup to help me avoid them. This came about in many ways. One way was that I would slow down for no reason I could rationally tell about. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Invariably there would be debris on the road ahead or a wreck that would have involved me if I had not held back.      There was another time that letting go saved my life. I was coming back to the Heartland from the East Coast. I had spent several years that turned out to be a learning experience of the emotionally expensive sort. My Mom had invited me to come home to recuperate. I had packed all of my belongings into my truck. The van I owned was hitched to the back of the truck. I stuffed much of my household stuff in the van. It was packed very tightly.      I made it over the mountains. I made it through Tennessee. I easily drove through Arkansas. After camping out in the truck for 3 days I was ready and eager to be still a while at Mom's house in Oklahoma. I was up early on the last day of the drive to head out. I started driving. What I did not realize was that there had been some freezing rain over night. It was not obvious because the sun was up and had melted and dried 99% of it.      East Oklahoma has some gentle rolling hills. On the down side of one of the hills I got in trouble. It was fairly steep. It was on the West face and had not yet been touched by the rising sun. There was a patch of ice that caused me to unexpectedly lose control. Before I knew it I was spinning. I went over an embankment rolling over repeatedly. I saw the Van heading the same way but parallel next to me. I let go of the wheel, asking God tell help me.      I'm glad I let got. My arms would have been seriously damaged otherwise, probably broken. The Truck hit the embankment head-on at full speed. I expected to be crushed; the cab held it's shape. I was belted in so I was otherwise unhurt. I was worried I might be trapped inside with maybe a fire. The truck landed on it's tires and upright. When the Good Samaritans hurried to me, I was able to open the door on my own. God had shielded me. The van was ripped apart lying upside down crushed next to the truck. The only thing that had helped keep the van shape was all the stuff tightly packed inside. The top was sheared off. I was very thankful to God.      Here is a story of another kind of Angel protection. I would point out that there were two dispatched as I have often taught you. It is a fine example of the dangers we may never know were averted by our Prayers.      A girl went to a party and she ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone. She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.      As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.  When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it.  However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.      She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection.  Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped round her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.      When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.  The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.  Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.      Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.  She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.  The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.      She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.  When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.  The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.      She asked if they would ask the man one question. Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.  When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone.  She had two tall men walking on either side of her."

Friday, August 08, 2008

Serving God 8-10-08 Category: Religion and Philosophy Serving God Sermon 8-10-08       We all have plans for our futures. In some nebulous way most of us see God in the picture somewhere. Our Egos dictate our paths mostly. The big house we want, the lucrative job we see as our due. The way I see it, all of us can plan all we want, but God still has the Destination picked out for us. The lines are drawn; it is how we color in our coloring book that matters. Try to make your picture a good picture. Make it a picture in Harmony with God's Will for you. Color inside the lines the best way you can.      When things seem to be going a direction you do not want, try to breath. When your best laid plans unravel no matter what you do, relax. When your prayers do not seem to be answered to your liking, know God may have answered you in ways you will not see until the time is right.       Some people think that if they do not get the form of answer they desire from God that God is not listening. They feel unloved if they do not fulfill their own plan for their lives. Sometimes the answer to our prayers is no. We maybe trying to get out of some lesson we need. There maybe something marvelous waiting for us. God may have some thing coming in our lives that is far better than the Junk Food in life we desire.      I recently got a story passed to me that I think illustrates the vanity of our plans when God has great things in store for us. We may get our wish only to realize it was something God wanted all along. Our goal is regulate our lives by praying for the greater good that we can achieve. Three Trees      Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty. "      Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull. "      Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the Heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me. "      After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.      At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.      When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.      When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.      The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.      The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.      The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.      Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.      Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.       Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.      The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.      Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.  We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.      In God's time all that is good and wonderful for you will come. Trust in God's plan and be at Peace. God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions. Angel Eliza 5:09 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, August 01, 2008

Artemis’ Miracle 8-3-08 Category: Religion and Philosophy Artemis' Miracle Sermon 8-3-08      In the Church of Thomas we believe that God can and does use us as Conduits for healing. This can happen when we Pray that someone be healed. It can also take place when we Pray with our hands touching the person to be healed. There are some that call this hands on healing. I have had the Honor of being such a conduit on many occasions. It is a very special feeling to be of use to God in situations like this. Carrying on with the idea of sharing Miracles that have come into my life I will share another Miracle. This Miracle is a healing.      When I lived in Hawaii I met a very special little creature. We lived in a townhouse in the town of Hilo. It rained a lot on that side of the island. My partner had a cat named Sabrina. She had been adopted off the streets in Austin before we moved to Hawaii. She was older and set in her ways. She also felt that there could never be enough food available. She was not friendly with other animals. I think it might have been the worry they would block her from the food bowl.      She had been homeless and starving so I understand why she jealously guarded her resources. Other than that she was a sweet cat and affectionate towards us. She had obviously been abandoned by someone. She just had too many habits that are taught to pets. She was not feral by any stretch of the imagination. I tell you about Sabrina so that you understand my concern when I met another little Homeless cat.       A few weeks after we moved in to the townhouse I heard what sounded like a kitten in distress. It kept crying. I know that some people put their pets outside when the pets are annoying. I looked around to see if I could find out which home the kitten belonged to. I planned to explain that she needed to be inside to be safe. I looked for quite a few weeks. The crying would stop as I went outside. As a result I had a problem locating specific direction to search.      It really bothered me that someone was not taking care of this little kitten. After about a month and a half I was frantic. The cries were not as vigorous as before. I was seriously worried that this kitten would die. It had to be getting some food though or it would not have lived more than a couple of weeks at most. I had asked everyone in the complex if they knew where this baby was. No one knew and few cared.      I heard her crying again on a day that I could spend sometime trying to find her. This time I answered her by calling come every time she cried. At first she was silent. Then she was curious. I kept looking around to see if I could spot her. I had gotten a better idea of direction from her this time. It was not the homes but a patch of wooded overgrown brushy area. That made more sense with no one knowing who she lived with.      I thought that she might come if I had some food so I went and opened some nice oily tuna. It had a good strong smell that would carry to her. I put it next to my when I sat on the grass. I was encouraged when I saw her little head poke out of the brush to see who was answering her. I resumed calling. She started answering me.      In time she was drawn to my can of tuna. I think I became less threatening when I sat down. She was very small. I thought she could not be more than a few months old. Weaned but not much older. She watched me ready to bolt at any movement. As she ate the tuna I stayed totally still, but continued to say comforting things.      At some point she came closer to check me out. She cleaned herself and eventually played with my shoelaces. I was nothing but a disembodied voice that was not hurting her. She was so tired I felt a mix of joy and distress. I knew that I needed to get up soon. My but was numb and my back was starting to hurt from being so still with out stretching. She had decided that the gap in my crossed legs looked like a great napping spot. I stayed still for a few minutes longer. I got up causing her to run towards the woods. It seemed like a good start.      I went to my porch that was on ground level. I wanted to see if she would come out again. I sat on the lawn chair to watch in more comfort. Much to my surprise she was staring at me from the brush again. I got another can of tuna and opened it. Maybe she was still hungry. I put it on the porch near me and called inviting her to come eat some more.      She did come, ate the second can, and climbed up on my lap. I was totally surprised. My lap was not as level as she liked. After trying to situate for a few minutes she did another wonder thing. She adopted me right there and then. I saw it in her posture and the way she looked right into my eyes and did not look away. She climbed up on my chest where I held her to keep her from sliding off and she was asleep in minutes. I was never humbled so completely in my life. I slept on the porch all night to keep her sleeping.      The next morning my partner came home to me asleep on the porch with a surprise in my arms. We named her Artemis because she was a great hunter. There were many complications over the next few months. We think her Mom was Feral too and had been hit by a car leaving Artemis to do the best she could.       She had been hunting and trying to survive on lizards. The vet told me that her true age was much older than her appearance. She was 6 months instead of my estimate of 3 months old. It had been the malnutrition that stunted her growth. On top of that she had been infected early in her life with Feline Leukemia. The vet offered to put her to sleep. I could not do that because she had adopted me in a way that no domesticated kitten ever would. I was determined to not betray her trust in me to keep her safe.       My Mom had nursed Feline Leukemia cats of her own. I got the recipes that she used to keep their weight up and relatively healthy. She was sick a lot the first few years she was with me. However after a few years she was not getting sick. I had been praying that she could be healed. I wondered if she was getting better after all. She was playing with the goats and asking to go with me to the farm everyday when I went to work.      The Vet said it was unlikely that she would be cured. After I insisted he told me that we could test her again for the disease. The vet was flabbergasted and I was overjoyed. She was cured! It was a great day for God to show such mercy to my little girl. Her little Immune System was damaged but she was virus free.      Artemis saw me through some very bad times. Unfortunately she had to stay in Hawaii on the farm. I miss her a lot, but I know she will be better off where there are no speeding cars to hit her.   6:05 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, July 25, 2008

A Hole In MY Shoe 7-27-08 A Hole In My Shoe Sermon 7-27-08      There are Miracles that God has given to help me in my times of need. Sometimes it was healing. Sometimes it was a job or resources to survive. I have found great comfort in the knowledge that God is protecting me. Sometimes that protection is even from things I brought on myself from my actions. This is the story of one of those small Miracles that meant so much to me. Sometimes the things you take for granted are the very things that once taken away are valued most when they are given back.      The Miracle I will tell you about was an answered Prayer. It was a small thing but gave me strength and hope that things would get better in time. What I received was just a foretaste of the improvements to come.      I have been homeless 3 times in my life. The first time was in Houston, Texas. It started out very unexpectedly. The timing of this happened to be the coldest winter in a decade. I was totally unprepared when it happened.      The apartment that I lived in building was in Montrose. It was a nice comfortable old building. It had originally been a large home that had been divided to make the apartments. I lived there with my Best Friend Steve. He had taken me in after I got back from pursuing a Love interest around the USA.      The rent was reasonable. I shared half of the bills including rent with Steve.  We had just paid rent. It was one week into the month that we had already paid the rent. The landlord locked everyone out without any notice. We could not find anyone to answer our questions.      The building had just changed ownership and we did not know where or who they were. I was very upset but tried to count my blessings. I was health, young, and had a few dollars in the bank. We of course never saw the month rent or prepaid deposit ever again.  What I had in the bank was not enough for a new apartment's deposit let a lone first month's rent. I did not have a job, but I was looking. I did not drink, do drugs, or have any psychological problems.      The first miracle was I found a van that did not run a few blocks from my old apartment. The owner only wanted two hundred dollars for it. I got behind the van with Steve steering and pushed it to a location close by. It was a street where there were many other vehicles that did not move often. When the Landlord locked us out he put some of our belongings in boxes outside the door. He did not seem to think my stereo, record and book collections and other personal belongings worthy of putting outside the apartment.      With the clothes that had been cleared from my apartment I set up living quarters in the van. Because the van locked I did not need to carry my stuff with me to interviews for jobs. This was a very good thing. Any interviewer that saw me caring everything would never have given me the time of day, let alone the chance to interview to get a job. There were other problems that I had not realized would come up.      I soon found that without an address and phone number, applications were not leading to an interview. I found a friend who was willing to be the address and phone. I got a job at a restaurant working the dish machine. I washed up in the bathroom before my shift. I got a free meal from the restaurant on the days that I worked. On my days off I cooked in a coffee can in my van. I could not buy much fresh food because I had to eat it all in one sitting. One of my favorites was already roasted chicken from a nearby grocery store.      I walked a long way to interviews and store. My shoes were getting thin in the sole from all the traveling around by foot. When the Winter really set in it started to rain everyday. Finally one of my shoes split in the sole letting the water in. The water found a way in no matter how I stepped around all the puddles. I had to work with wet feet sometimes if I had no dry socks left. It was very uncomfortable.      The second miracle eased this for me. I prayed that I could get a new shoe to replace the split one. Just one shoe was what I prayed for and wanted. No one ever looked at my feet. The next morning on the way to work I found a matching pair of tennis shoes on the curb. They were almost new. They were placed like you would set shoes out for a getting dressed in the morning right there on the curb. The shoes were not my size but a little bigger than would snuggly fit me. I changed my shoes right there at the curb. My feet were finally warm and dry again. There is nothing as miserable as having uncomfortable feet. I was so Grateful to God for helping me with this Gift.      When I went to sleep that night I had a dream that felt like a great big hug. God told me in the dream that the shoes were a little big so I could wear two pair of socks, to keep warm. I cried tears of joy that God so greatly cared for me.       To this day I value a good pair of shoes like I never did before. The next time you look in your closet count the pairs of shoes. You will probably find a huge variety of them. You will probably have a pair for every occasion. You might have a few pairs of each kind. Ask yourself how often you wear each pair. Ask yourself if you have lost interest in some of them; which might be the case if you did not even remember having them. When you find such a pair shoes that are not in tatters I want you to consider something.