PART FOUR of  a NEW SERIES

Inspiring? 

Encouraging? 

or Daunting?

PART THREE of  a NEW SERIES

Inspiring? 

Encouraging? 

or Daunting?

PART TWO of  a NEW SERIES

Inspiring? 

Encouraging? 

or Daunting?

The famed guitarist is 89 years old

PART ONE of  a NEW SERIES

Inspiring? 

Encouraging? 

or Daunting?

If Obama Had been President in 1941

You may need to enlarge this image

in order to appreciate its irony more fully

[NOTE: This is said to be a PERSONAL AD placed on CRAIG'S LIST. Frankly, we don’t care whether it’s strictly true or not, though we hope it is. The scenario outlined demonstrates a point of view we’d like to see applauded and implemented more often.]

To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me 
in Downtown Savannah 
night before last.

Date: 2011-11-27, 1:43 am. E.S.T.

I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives.  You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings.  I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.

First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn't expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket.. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. my girlfriend was happy that I just returned safely from my 2nd tour as a Combat Marine in Afghanistan. 

She had just bought me that Kimber Custom Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had just picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. 

Obviously you would agree that it is very intimidating when pointed at your head, wouldn’t you?

I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that load in your pants. I'm sure it must have been even worse walking barefoot  since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. 

That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help attack us again, didn’t it?

After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode to her of what you'd done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station –– on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 153 gallons and could not have been more grateful.

I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all the cash in your wallet. 

[That sure made his day!]

I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" parked at the curb –– after I broke the windshield and side window then keyed the entire driver's side of the car.

Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.

The FBI guy seemed really intense, and we had a nice long chat, while he traced your number, etc.

Perhaps I should apologize for not killing you, but I feel this type of retribution is far more appropriate for you tried to do to my girl and me. 

I wish you well as you try to sort through some of the pressing issues you’ve brought on yourself, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you've chosen to follow. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a nice day!

Thoughtfully yours, 

Alex

SEMPER FI!

Kaiser, Saturday Evening Post, March, 1943

Dear March — Come in —
How glad I am —
I hoped for you before —

Put down your Hat —
You must have walked —
How out of Breath you are —
Dear March, Come right up the stairs with me —
I have so much to tell —

I got your Letter, and the Birds —
The Maples never knew that you were coming — till I called
I declare — how Red their Faces grew —
But March, forgive me — and
All those Hills you left for me to Hue —
There was no Purple suitable —
You took it all with you —

Who knocks? That April.
Lock the Door —
I will not be pursued —
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied —
But trifles look so trivial
As soon as you have come

That Blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame —

~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

A Point to Ponder

A government that’s run amok
It's citizens will surely fok!

~ Anne Animus

THE OLD PATHS

I liked the old paths, when 

Mothers stayed at home. 

Fathers went to work. 

Brothers joined the army. 

And sisters got married 

BEFORE having children.

Crime did not pay.

But hard work did,

And people knew the difference. 

Moms could cook. 

Dads would work. 

Children would behave. 

Husbands were loving.

Wives were supportive, 

And children were polite. 

Women wore jewelry, 

And Men wore pants. 

Women looked feminine.

Men looked manly, 

And children looked clean, decent

And well-groomed. 

People respected the truth, 

And disapproved of liars.

They went to church 

To find solid friendships 

While worshipping God.

Hymns sounded reverent. 

Sermons sounded helpful. 

Rejoicing sounded normal, 

And grieving was sincere. 

Cursing could get you into trouble. 

Drugs were for illness. 

The flag was honored. 

America was beautiful. 

And God was a welcome Presence

In all our lives.

We read the Bible in school, 

Joyfully celebrated Christmas,   

And quietly witnessed for the blessings 

Of knowing Jesus Christ 

With everyone we met.

To be an American was worth dying for. 

To be an American was worth living for. 

To utter treasonous thoughts was shameful.

I still like the old paths the best. 

~ Anonymous

What does the term

“The Alienated Jew”

mean to you, personally, 

and what effect might the phenomenon, if, indeed, it is a phenomenon, had on the development of Western Civilization and Current Events?

 

In this 15th century woodcut, Jews are depicted as murdering the child Simon of Trent. This "murder" is one of the sources of the Medieval blood libel: the allegation that Jews used Christian children's blood to make matzoh (unleavened bread) during Passover. The Jews can be recognized by the circular patches sewn on their clothing and by the money bags they carry.

[SOURCE: From a facsimile of Hartmann Schedel's Nuremburg Chronicle or Buch der Chroniken, printed by Anton Koberger in 1493. Both the Buch der Chroniken and the facsimile are located at Kenyon College.]

CONSUMERISM RUN AMOK?

Is more always better?

What does this say to you about the mentality that obviously drives the lower and lower-middle classes?

Do you APPROVE or DISAPPROVE?

Or Don't You Care?

The Determination to Serve

2/23/2015 [emphasis added]

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve… —Matthew 20:28

Jesus also said, “Yet I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27). Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s— “…ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a “doormat” for others— called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, “I know how to be abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. 

The chief motivation behind Paul’s service, however, was not love for others but love for his Lord. 

If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.

Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man…” (1 Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.

~ Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

The grave my little cottage is,
Where “Keeping house” for thee
I make my parlor orderly
And lay the marble tea.

For two divided, briefly,
A cycle, it may be,
Till everlasting life unite
In strong society.

~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

“O, Wind, if Winter comes, 

can Spring be far behind?”

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

Ode to the West Wind

We’re only here for a little stay.

Don’t worry.

Don’t hurry,

And be sure to stop,

And smell the flowers along the way.

~ Anonymous

"Just think of lovely things
And your heart will fly on wings"

Betty Comden and Adolphe Greene - Peter Pan 1954

Feeling a little low?

World got you down?

Are you snowed under?

Overwhelmed with with debt?

Just plain sick and tired of it all?

RELAX. 

SIT DOWN. 

PUT YOUR FEET UP.

AND HAVE A NICE HOT 

CUPPA COFFEE.

And here you thought we couldn't possibly

sink any lower than we already did.

HAH! 

FOOLED YA, DIDN'T WE?

Nine Last Names of Distinction 

on the Brink of Extinction

Everybody knows them, but who WERE they?

Is your last name Miracle, Tumbler or Villan? If so, you’re a member of a dying breed. Just be happy you’re not a Bread or a Spinster, or you’d be presumed already extinct.

Unusual names have lingered for centuries, but did you know that they can become extinct? Any last name with under 200 “bearers” is endangered, and we’ve found some which have indeed died out. 

Do you have a rare last name on the verge of extinction, or is your last name extremely common? Build a family tree on MyHeritage.com and discover relatives with your last name you never knew existed.

Last names with less than 20 bearers:

 Sallow

Fernsby

Villin (Villan)

Miracle

Dankworth

Relish

MacQuoid

Loughty

Birdwhistle

Berrycloth

Tumbler

Endangered last names with under 200 bearers:

 Ajax

Edevane

Gastrell

Slora

Last names presumed extinct since 2011:

 Bread

MacCaa

Spinster

Pussett, Puscat and Pussmaid

Bythesea and Bytheseashore

So, why are so many names becoming extinct? Names linked to uncommon professions or geographic places are dying out slowly unlike the more popular Smith and Baker. Also, many last names were wiped out during war when young men died in battle taking with them the distinctive last names of their villages and hamlets of origin after which they'd been called.

Many of these were British names which, just like people, have migrated across the shores to America or Australasia, which means the names have moved to a new home. Other last names, like those from Eastern Europe, have become anglicized and are beginning to take over the traditional British names.

Do you have an endangered last name? What would you do to save it from becoming extinct?

See more at: http://articles.myheritage.com/9-last-names-brink-extinction/?lang=EN&utm_source=ppc_Taboola&utm_medium=ppc&tr_brand=1&utm_campaign=US_EN_WEB_ACQ_C&tr_ad_group=A4&tr_device=c&tr_position=All&tr_copy=A4_T1&tr_creative=A4_I1_Family#sthash.jN0c2J4r.dpuf

Care to Elaborate On 

Or Add Anything To 

This Statement?