Lib Lyte

I lay down the white flag – though it may have some skid marks on it.

I want to be a Lib – I really do. And I’m trying. After all they won and won big and they rule now. Fine – it’s the American way, eh?

But I can’t get past abortion and homosexuality – sorry – my God says it’s wrong (Psalm 139 and Leviticus 18:22). There’s a stumbling block right there. Libs don’t care what God says, in fact if you try and tell ‘em God says anything, they get that sneer, smirk and are loaded up with taunts, comebacks, offense. They’re good at it.

I wanna be like that – but I don’t fit in. My core’s wired differently – God’s word is truth, right and wrong, common sense, guys and girls, all that good stuff. According to Libs that’s  outmoded, old-fashioned, irrelevant, not even retro – retro would be cool – Nouveau  Christian (Christian but cool somehow), Christian Democrat. Now there’s an anomaly – but one I’m trying hard to surmount.

So I’ve come up with Lib Lyte. Partial Progressive doesn’t ring my thing.

To the good side, I don’t believe in capitalism without – here I go again – practiced Christian values. If anyone should be going to church and having a 24 hr. Christian Bubba over them – it’s ANY executive of any corporation, low, middle, upper management. We’re talking Pope when it comes to CEO’s – constantly ringing red telephone.

“Corporate Greed” is Latin for “the devil rules,” ain’t it? Redistribution of wealth – not gonna happen but if it did, I’m a church mouse.

And art? Oh cripe – conservatives and Christians – that whole crowd. Where’s their stuff? Can’t a conservative pick up a crayon? Write a book? Plunk on a guitar? Yes, plenty of Christian music out there – some of it’s pretty good – same with the books. But the problem is, it’s a niche. If more conservatives expressed themselves about the human condition, maybe they wouldn’t be hiding behind the bible all the time.

I don’t know. What happened to “We Are The World” and “we’re all in this together”? “We the People”? Media, culture, GIVE US AN F'NG BREAK. Let that be your part in this truce. As an incentive, remember, there are 57 million of us who didn’t vote for your values – not all of which are bad.

And where’s God, by the way? Isn’t He supposed to be coming soon? Are the Mayans wrong? Are we setting dates to cop out of the world’s misery? Lastly, but most important – why can’t you come and fix this, Lord? Oops, God’s voice, “If you’d all come to me and live the way I wrote you to liveth, it’d BE fixed. Sorry for yelling, I’m a little frustrated too.” And He’s God.

“Are you really going to say “liveth” and things like that all of eternity?” I asked Him.

“Not your eternity,” the Lord cometh back.

“Sorry, sorry,” I repented, knowing He has a good sense of humor (I hope).

Let’s change some hearts – even if it means being Lib Lyte. It’s Ok – there’s no such thing. Not yet.

Eagles

when i woke up yesterday, i thought i'd seen the dream i had on you tube or the news.

but that'd have been impossible.

eagles came through a big city. lots of them. i saw, vividly, and with full recollection, a large american bald eagle land on a man's lap - he was like a worker, downtown, on lunch break.

the man was petting the eagle, plus, he was holding his cell phone in his other hand. that arm was extended - he was taking a live picture/vid and showing it to his wife.

now that's a dream! not gonna see that on cnn or fox or anywhere short of hollywood.

but why did i see eagles in this bonified dream? i don't know.

i can only remember tolkien, when merry, i think, gets trounced by the nazgul's flying steed (forgot what they're called) and he hears, "the eagles are coming"! same with frodo and sam, when they're sitting on a hill outside mt. doom, with lava rising, at the end of all things and as they are about to pass out, the eagles come and swoop them off to the safety of a victorious gondor.

and the lord says in isaiah, "young men shall see visions, and old men dreams." i'm not young, and that was my dream.


Clip art copyrighted by Bobbie Peachey,
http://webclipart.about.com

Jeremiah Chapter Eight

God warns that even though men count themselves wise because they think they have the word of the lord, writers (interpreters) have lied and because of it, many have fallen into deception.


1 " 'At that time, declares the LORD, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. 2 They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped. They will not be gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground. 3 Wherever I banish them, all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life, declares the LORD Almighty.'
Sin and Punishment
4 "Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says:
" 'When men fall down, do they not get up?
When a man turns away, does he not return?

5 Why then have these people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;
they refuse to return.

6 I have listened attentively,
but they do not say what is right.
No one repents of his wickedness,
saying, "What have I done?"
Each pursues his own course
like a horse charging into battle.

7 Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know
the requirements of the LORD.

8 " 'How can you say, "We are wise,
for we have the law of the LORD,"
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
has handled it falsely?

9 The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.
Since they have rejected the word of the LORD,
what kind of wisdom do they have?

10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men
and their fields to new owners.
From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.

11 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
"Peace, peace," they say,
when there is no peace.

12 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when they are punished,
says the LORD.

13 " 'I will take away their harvest,
declares the LORD.
There will be no grapes on the vine.
There will be no figs on the tree,
and their leaves will wither.
What I have given them
will be taken from them. [a] ' "

14 "Why are we sitting here?
Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities
and perish there!
For the LORD our God has doomed us to perish
and given us poisoned water to drink,
because we have sinned against him.

15 We hoped for peace
but no good has come,
for a time of healing
but there was only terror.

16 The snorting of the enemy's horses
is heard from Dan;
at the neighing of their stallions
the whole land trembles.
They have come to devour
the land and everything in it,
the city and all who live there."

17 "See, I will send venomous snakes among you,
vipers that cannot be charmed,
and they will bite you,"
declares the LORD.

18 O my Comforter [b] in sorrow,
my heart is faint within me.

19 Listen to the cry of my people
from a land far away:
"Is the LORD not in Zion?
Is her King no longer there?"
"Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,
with their worthless foreign idols?"

20 "The harvest is past,
the summer has ended,
and we are not saved."

21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;
I mourn, and horror grips me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people?

Jeremiah Chapter Seven

we are warned to change our ways because we are worshiping false idols and listening to deceptive words. yet, we are still trying to come to the lord as christians. he cautions us to stop this as "god is watching."


False Religion Worthless

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2 "Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and there proclaim this message:
" 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD. 3 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

9 " 'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, [a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"-safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.

12 " 'Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. 14 Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your fathers. 15 I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim.'

16 "So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger. 19 But am I the one they are provoking? declares the LORD. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?

20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground, and it will burn and not be quenched.

21 " 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their forefathers.'

27 "When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. 28 Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. 29 Cut off your hair and throw it away; take up a lament on the barren heights, for the LORD has rejected and abandoned this generation that is under his wrath.
The Valley of Slaughter
30 " 'The people of Judah have done evil in my eyes, declares the LORD. They have set up their detestable idols in the house that bears my Name and have defiled it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. 32 So beware, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter, for they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. 33 Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away. 34 I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate.

Jeremiah Chapter Six

This chapter deals with the trial and then punishment of Jerusalem and the Jews. They have fallen away to worship their idols and follow their own minds, and have become filled with contempt towards the Lord.

The fact that God first tried the Israelites may be what America is experiencing right now - particularly American Christians. Are we doing enough? Are we repenting for our sins and making an effort to come to Christ and obey Him? There is time, but the trial is underway as God has not yet come back in His wrath. He will, because He says so. Be aware, please!

Jerusalem Under Siege

1 "Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet in Tekoa!
Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!
For disaster looms out of the north,
even terrible destruction.

2 I will destroy the Daughter of Zion,
so beautiful and delicate.

3 Shepherds with their flocks will come against her;
they will pitch their tents around her,
each tending his own portion."

4 "Prepare for battle against her!
Arise, let us attack at noon!
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
and the shadows of evening grow long.

5 So arise, let us attack at night
and destroy her fortresses!"

6 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Cut down the trees
and build siege ramps against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
it is filled with oppression.

7 As a well pours out its water,
so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence and destruction resound in her;
her sickness and wounds are ever before me.

8 Take warning, O Jerusalem,
or I will turn away from you
and make your land desolate
so no one can live in it."

9 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Let them glean the remnant of Israel
as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
like one gathering grapes."

10 To whom can I speak and give warning?
Who will listen to me?
Their ears are closed [a]
so they cannot hear.
The word of the LORD is offensive to them;
they find no pleasure in it.

11 But I am full of the wrath of the LORD,
and I cannot hold it in.
"Pour it out on the children in the street
and on the young men gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
and the old, those weighed down with years.

12 Their houses will be turned over to others,
together with their fields and their wives,
when I stretch out my hand
against those who live in the land,"
declares the LORD.

13 "From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.

14 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
'Peace, peace,' they say,
when there is no peace.

15 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,"
says the LORD.

16 This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

17 I appointed watchmen over you and said,
'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!'
But you said, 'We will not listen.'

18 Therefore hear, O nations;
observe, O witnesses,
what will happen to them.

19 Hear, O earth:
I am bringing disaster on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,
because they have not listened to my words
and have rejected my law.

20 What do I care about incense from Sheba
or sweet calamus from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please me."

21 Therefore this is what the LORD says:
"I will put obstacles before this people.
Fathers and sons alike will stumble over them;
neighbors and friends will perish."

22 This is what the LORD says:
"Look, an army is coming
from the land of the north;
a great nation is being stirred up
from the ends of the earth.

23 They are armed with bow and spear;
they are cruel and show no mercy.
They sound like the roaring sea
as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, O Daughter of Zion."

24 We have heard reports about them,
and our hands hang limp.
Anguish has gripped us,
pain like that of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out to the fields
or walk on the roads,
for the enemy has a sword,
and there is terror on every side.

26 O my people, put on sackcloth
and roll in ashes;
mourn with bitter wailing
as for an only son,
for suddenly the destroyer
will come upon us.

27 "I have made you a tester of metals
and my people the ore,
that you may observe
and test their ways.

28 They are all hardened rebels,
going about to slander.
They are bronze and iron;
they all act corruptly.

29 The bellows blow fiercely
to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining goes on in vain;
the wicked are not purged out.

30 They are called rejected silver,
because the LORD has rejected them."

Jeremiah Chapter Five

I think this is the most cautionary line for America today in this chapter: "'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.'"

Not One Is Upright

1 "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
look around and consider,
search through her squares.
If you can find but one person
who deals honestly and seeks the truth,
I will forgive this city.

2 Although they say, 'As surely as the LORD lives,'
still they are swearing falsely."

3 O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth?
You struck them, but they felt no pain;
you crushed them, but they refused correction.
They made their faces harder than stone
and refused to repent.

4 I thought, "These are only the poor;
they are foolish,
for they do not know the way of the LORD,
the requirements of their God.

5 So I will go to the leaders
and speak to them;
surely they know the way of the LORD,
the requirements of their God."
But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke
and torn off the bonds.

6 Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them,
a wolf from the desert will ravage them,
a leopard will lie in wait near their towns
to tear to pieces any who venture out,
for their rebellion is great
and their backslidings many.

7 "Why should I forgive you?
Your children have forsaken me
and sworn by gods that are not gods.
I supplied all their needs,
yet they committed adultery
and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.

8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
each neighing for another man's wife.

9 Should I not punish them for this?"
declares the LORD.
"Should I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?

10 "Go through her vineyards and ravage them,
but do not destroy them completely.
Strip off her branches,
for these people do not belong to the LORD.

11 The house of Israel and the house of Judah
have been utterly unfaithful to me,"
declares the LORD.

12 They have lied about the LORD;
they said, "He will do nothing!
No harm will come to us;
we will never see sword or famine.

13 The prophets are but wind
and the word is not in them;
so let what they say be done to them."

14 Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says:
"Because the people have spoken these words,
I will make my words in your mouth a fire
and these people the wood it consumes.

15 O house of Israel," declares the LORD,
"I am bringing a distant nation against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
a people whose language you do not know,
whose speech you do not understand.

16 Their quivers are like an open grave;
all of them are mighty warriors.

17 They will devour your harvests and food,
devour your sons and daughters;
they will devour your flocks and herds,
devour your vines and fig trees.
With the sword they will destroy
the fortified cities in which you trust.

18 "Yet even in those days," declares the LORD, "I will not destroy you completely. 19 And when the people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' you will tell them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.'

20 "Announce this to the house of Jacob
and proclaim it in Judah:

21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear:

22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD.
"Should you not tremble in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,
an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
they may roar, but they cannot cross it.

23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts;
they have turned aside and gone away.

24 They do not say to themselves,
'Let us fear the LORD our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains in season,
who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'

25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
your sins have deprived you of good.

26 "Among my people are wicked men
who lie in wait like men who snare birds
and like those who set traps to catch men.

27 Like cages full of birds,
their houses are full of deceit;
they have become rich and powerful

28 and have grown fat and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it,
they do not defend the rights of the poor.

29 Should I not punish them for this?"
declares the LORD.
"Should I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?

30 "A horrible and shocking thing
has happened in the land:

31 The prophets prophesy lies,
the priests rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
But what will you do in the end?

Jeremiah Chapter Four

this chapter has a prophetic message for israel concerning "disaster from the north."

1 "If you will return, O Israel,
return to me,"
declares the LORD.
"If you put your detestable idols out of my sight
and no longer go astray,

2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
you swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives,'
then the nations will be blessed by him
and in him they will glory."

3 This is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:
"Break up your unplowed ground
and do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD,
circumcise your hearts,
you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it.

Disaster From the North

5 "Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say:
'Sound the trumpet throughout the land!'
Cry aloud and say:
'Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities!'

6 Raise the signal to go to Zion!
Flee for safety without delay!
For I am bringing disaster from the north,
even terrible destruction."

7 A lion has come out of his lair;
a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his place
to lay waste your land.
Your towns will lie in ruins
without inhabitant.

8 So put on sackcloth,
lament and wail,
for the fierce anger of the LORD
has not turned away from us.

9 "In that day," declares the LORD,
"the king and the officials will lose heart,
the priests will be horrified,
and the prophets will be appalled."

10 Then I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, how completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, 'You will have peace,' when the sword is at our throats."

11 At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, "A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; 12 a wind too strong for that comes from me. [a] Now I pronounce my judgments against them."

13 Look! He advances like the clouds,
his chariots come like a whirlwind,
his horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us! We are ruined!

14 O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved.
How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?

15 A voice is announcing from Dan,
proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.

16 "Tell this to the nations,
proclaim it to Jerusalem:
'A besieging army is coming from a distant land,
raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.

17 They surround her like men guarding a field,
because she has rebelled against me,' "
declares the LORD.

18 "Your own conduct and actions
have brought this upon you.
This is your punishment.
How bitter it is!
How it pierces to the heart!"

19 Oh, my anguish, my anguish!
I writhe in pain.
Oh, the agony of my heart!
My heart pounds within me,
I cannot keep silent.
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;
I have heard the battle cry.

20 Disaster follows disaster;
the whole land lies in ruins.
In an instant my tents are destroyed,
my shelter in a moment.

21 How long must I see the battle standard
and hear the sound of the trumpet?

22 "My people are fools;
they do not know me.
They are senseless children;
they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil;
they know not how to do good."

23 I looked at the earth,
and it was formless and empty;
and at the heavens,
and their light was gone.

24 I looked at the mountains,
and they were quaking;
all the hills were swaying.

25 I looked, and there were no people;
every bird in the sky had flown away.

26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;
all its towns lay in ruins
before the LORD, before his fierce anger.

27 This is what the LORD says:
"The whole land will be ruined,
though I will not destroy it completely.

28 Therefore the earth will mourn
and the heavens above grow dark,
because I have spoken and will not relent,
I have decided and will not turn back."

29 At the sound of horsemen and archers
every town takes to flight.
Some go into the thickets;
some climb up among the rocks.
All the towns are deserted;
no one lives in them.

30 What are you doing, O devastated one?
Why dress yourself in scarlet
and put on jewels of gold?
Why shade your eyes with paint?
You adorn yourself in vain.
Your lovers despise you;
they seek your life.

31 I hear a cry as of a woman in labor,
a groan as of one bearing her first child—
the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands and saying,
"Alas! I am fainting;
my life is given over to murderers."

Jeremiah Chapter Three

1 "If a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
would you now return to me?"
declares the LORD.

2 "Look up to the barren heights and see.
Is there any place where you have not been ravished?
By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers,
sat like a nomad [a] in the desert.
You have defiled the land
with your prostitution and wickedness.

3 Therefore the showers have been withheld,
and no spring rains have fallen.
Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute;
you refuse to blush with shame.

4 Have you not just called to me:
'My Father, my friend from my youth,

5 will you always be angry?
Will your wrath continue forever?'
This is how you talk,
but you do all the evil you can."
Unfaithful Israel
6 During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the LORD.

11 The LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north:
" 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD,
'I will frown on you no longer,
for I am merciful,' declares the LORD,
'I will not be angry forever.

13 Only acknowledge your guilt—
you have rebelled against the LORD your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods
under every spreading tree,
and have not obeyed me,' "
declares the LORD.

14 "Return, faithless people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. 15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. 16 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "men will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. 18 In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance.

19 "I myself said,
" 'How gladly would I treat you like sons
and give you a desirable land,
the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.'
I thought you would call me 'Father'
and not turn away from following me.

20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel,"
declares the LORD.

21 A cry is heard on the barren heights,
the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel,
because they have perverted their ways
and have forgotten the LORD their God.

22 "Return, faithless people;
I will cure you of backsliding."
"Yes, we will come to you,
for you are the LORD our God.

23 Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills
and mountains is a deception;
surely in the LORD our God
is the salvation of Israel.

24 From our youth shameful gods have consumed
the fruits of our fathers' labor—
their flocks and herds,
their sons and daughters.

25 Let us lie down in our shame,
and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned against the LORD our God,
both we and our fathers;
from our youth till this day
we have not obeyed the LORD our God."

Jeremiah Chapter Two

discussions will follow, but over the next several days, i'm sharing the entire book with you - a cautionary tale for our lives and these times.

Israel Forsakes God

1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:
" 'I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the desert,
through a land not sown.

3 Israel was holy to the LORD,
the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty,
and disaster overtook them,' "
declares the LORD.

4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob,
all you clans of the house of Israel.

5 This is what the LORD says:
"What fault did your fathers find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.

6 They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and rifts,
a land of drought and darkness, [a]
a land where no one travels and no one lives?'

7 I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable.

8 The priests did not ask,
'Where is the LORD ?'
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols.

9 "Therefore I bring charges against you again,"
declares the LORD.
"And I will bring charges against your children's children.

10 Cross over to the coasts of Kittim [b] and look,
send to Kedar [c] and observe closely;
see if there has ever been anything like this:

11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their [d] Glory
for worthless idols.

12 Be appalled at this, O heavens,
and shudder with great horror,"
declares the LORD.

13 "My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

14 Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?
Why then has he become plunder?

15 Lions have roared;
they have growled at him.
They have laid waste his land;
his towns are burned and deserted.

16 Also, the men of Memphis [e] and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head. [f]

17 Have you not brought this on yourselves
by forsaking the LORD your God
when he led you in the way?

18 Now why go to Egypt
to drink water from the Shihor [g] ?
And why go to Assyria
to drink water from the River [h] ?

19 Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the LORD your God
and have no awe of me,"
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

20 "Long ago you broke off your yoke
and tore off your bonds;
you said, 'I will not serve you!'
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute.

21 I had planted you like a choice vine
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild vine?

22 Although you wash yourself with soda
and use an abundance of soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,"
declares the Sovereign LORD.

23 "How can you say, 'I am not defiled;
I have not run after the Baals'?
See how you behaved in the valley;
consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel
running here and there,

24 a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,
sniffing the wind in her craving—
in her heat who can restrain her?
Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
at mating time they will find her.

25 Do not run until your feet are bare
and your throat is dry.
But you said, 'It's no use!
I love foreign gods,
and I must go after them.'

26 "As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,
so the house of Israel is disgraced—
they, their kings and their officials,
their priests and their prophets.

27 They say to wood, 'You are my father,'
and to stone, 'You gave me birth.'
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
'Come and save us!'

28 Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them come if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you have as many gods
as you have towns, O Judah.

29 "Why do you bring charges against me?
You have all rebelled against me,"
declares the LORD.

30 "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.

31 "You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD :
"Have I been a desert to Israel
or a land of great darkness?
Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam;
we will come to you no more'?

32 Does a maiden forget her jewelry,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.

33 How skilled you are at pursuing love!
Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.

34 On your clothes men find
the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
though you did not catch them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all this

35 you say, 'I am innocent;
he is not angry with me.'
But I will pass judgment on you
because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

36 Why do you go about so much,
changing your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt
as you were by Assyria.

37 You will also leave that place
with your hands on your head,
for the LORD has rejected those you trust;
you will not be helped by them.

Jeremiah - Prophetic to America?

I scoffed at the comparison (NYC being modern-day Babylon, for one), but people are talking about it more now. Jeremiah was a prophet to ALL the nations, not just Judah/Israel.

Recent studies point out that because of the dispersia, Jews are a large part of nations other than Israel, particularly, America.

I'll post what I've been reading, but right now, I think it's important to post the whole Book of Jeremiah. It's a cautionary tale.

Jeremiah Chapter One (NIV):


1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
The Call of Jeremiah

4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

11 The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"
"I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied.

12 The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching [b] to see that my word is fulfilled."

13 The word of the LORD came to me again: "What do you see?"
"I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered.

14 The LORD said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares the LORD.
"Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.

16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made.

17 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Thinly Sliced Pork with Garlic, Fennel, and Apple

I am, of late, eating a meat dish in the early afternoon for energy, and then a salad later at night, in hopes of losing and maintaining weight as I age.

The dishes are still very tasty – I’ve just minimized, which is what I’m doing with most facets of my life these days.

I encourage you to vary this afternoon entree– beef, turkey or chicken breast, lean pork and fish. I think the tastiest, cleanest meat on the planet is Kosher, even though I had pork today! Trader Joe’s has a great selection of Kosher meats, and Chicago, where I used to live and am not far away, has wonderful Kosher butchers in the neighborhoods.

Start with a third of a pound of pork tenderloin or roast. If you buy good, lean, preferably organically fed piece of pork, you can divide it into serving sizes and store in your freezer in quart serving bags. Tip: frozen meat will keep longer if you double bag it.

Defrost the meat, rinse it in cold water and dry the excess moisture with a paper towel or two.

Heat a no-stick skillet – I happen to have an analon hard-anodized 12” skillet and love it. Put heat on low for now.

Take one or two cloves of garlic, peel and slice as thinly as possible with a sharp knife. Put the garlic aside.

Slice the meat thinly. Then put a couple of tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in your skillet. Turn up the gas to medium high and throw in the meat. Save the garlic for later.

In my little herb grinder, I placed the following:

10 black peppercorns
half teaspoon of fennel seeds
minced garlic
minced onion
dry flaked parsely
some red pepper – I have powdered cayenne on hand.

Use only a small amount of herbs/spices because grinding brings out all the flavor and a little goes a long way.

Don’t use salt in cooking because it dries out the meat!

When you turn the meat over, sprinkle on the herb/spice mix.

Chop an apple into big pieces and add to the pan.

It won’t be long before it’s all done. I suggest cooking until meat and apple are a light brown.

I usually strain any fat or juice in a hand held strainer. Serve in your dinner bowl or plate, then salt to taste with Kosher salt and enjoy. Remember to thank the Lord for providing!

I find I can go through the entire day with a small breakfast and then this simple meat meal. Once or twice a week, I’ll sub veggies, soup, or beans for the meat, but I’ll still make a salad in the evening. Great time for a beer to go with it!

What Glen Beck and Most Other Conservatives, Libertarians Are Missing

What was wrong with Glen Beck’s CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) speech last week?

He got up and confidently compared Republicans to an unrepentant alcoholic.

‘ "I have not yet heard people in the Republican Party admit they have a problem," Beck told a packed ballroom in Washington. "I have not seen a come-to-Jesus meeting. . . . 'Hello, my name is the Republican Party and I've got a problem. I'm addicted to spending and big government.' . . . They need that moment." ’

You betcha.

I haven’t heard one speech that addresses the other side of the problem. What other side of the problem?

Good thing I engage - and I’m thankful for this – in conversation with a few very liberal, progressive friends. We are close enough for them to entertain, if not try on, my viewpoint. And we still come away friends.

Generally all liberals are against “big corporation” as much as conservatives are against “big government.” Throw it back a century or so and you’ve got the same argument, but in its initial form: labor vs. management. Corporation still represents management, but now government is looked upon by the left, erroneously, as the people’s benefactor.

Beck knows all this. So where is he missing the yacht? I’ve been reading one of Peter Marshall’s books about the founding of the USA. He uses real quotes, real research and real, handwritten documents - most of which were unearthed from Yale or Princeton archives, ca. 17th and 18th centuries. They’re the “Dead Sea Scrolls” of our country. BTW, Marshall’s mother, Catherine, wrote “Little House on the Prairie,” and his dad was chaplain of the US Senate (1947-49).

Marshall, in “From Sea To Shining Sea,” discusses the first Constitutional Convention in the late 1700s. Talk about special interest! The states were battling so much over MONEY, that individual states were courting foreign countries, whose armies and political power could best suit their needs.

The great experiment that had become the USA was about to fail because the initial focus that energized independence had changed – from unity, to self-interest. Using historical records, Marshall brings us to the convention hall and shows us the key to what turned things around.

A bespectacled gentleman, dottering on his cane, watching the goings on in an overheated, unbearably humid room in Philadelphia, summer, 1787, pointed out something ineffably valuable to the arguing delegates. No fiction setting the scene, it’s written by the participants themselves.

Benjamin Franklin, 82, had less than three years to live. Only 10-15 yrs. previous, he was a chief mover in founding this country. In fact, his prodigious inventions and writings set the tone for the American way of life - electricity for one. Franklin/Edison/A Teen on a Cell Phone. Yes, yes, and a few stops in between.

Franklin, the elder statesman, recalled the marching orders that gave the country its freedom from repressive, selfish British rule. You think the Brits are nice? Ok, they’re nice. But they used America as a cash cow. 225 years later, they barely have a country.

Franklin’s words quelled the bickering among the states at the 11th hour as the nation they formed with the unity of their blood, sweat and tears was about to be torn and shredded from its flagpole. He implored them (quote from Sea to Shining Sea):

“I have lived sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: ‘that God governs in the affairs of man.’ And if a sparrow can’t fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire cannot rise without His aid?”

Franklin reminded that a house is built in vain unless the Lord build it Himself. He believed the same held for America, that “we shall succeed in this political building no better than the towers of Babel, [and] divided by our little, partial local [special] interests, and become a reproach and a byword down to future ages.”

Ain’t that the truth? Worse, Franklin said, is that by building the nation on “human wisdom” would leave it open to “chance, war, or conquest.”

Couple centuries later, and boom, it’s the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Toke toke, sniff sniff, cough cough, giggle giggle. Adultery, swap partners, intense restriction of Christianity, rise of sodomy, money grab, power grab. You’d think the Lord is sitting up there wondering, “what the h#&& kind of wimpy people did I create?”

No, I don’t think He’s doing that. This country, this land o’ plenty, has been a supreme test. You want it, you got it. Every sparkling doo-dad, tech and perversion imaginable. But the rules are, and Franklin saw this – the more you take on your own, the less the Lord has His hand on us.

Could Franklin have foreseen this slide into oblivion, masked, at present as intellectual, benign socialism? All he had to do was pick up the bible. He concluded to the Con-Con delegates:

“I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business.”

Powerful words. They held a mesmerizing sway over the crowd. And the members, teetering on the edge of an irreversible secular democracy instead of a republic, were stirred. America, instead of being a large teat up for grabs for whoever squeaked the loudest (or sucked the hardest), was to be a light for all men.

A light for all men. Corny? You betcha. It’s the HONOR SYSTEM. That’s all God asked: to be pure in heart and let the Holy Spirit guide you – corporation head, banker, politician, pastor, the common man and woman.

Did we lose sight of that? We should write it on our hands.

From Pat Boone

In his column for WND this morning, Pat Boone restates the prophetic warnings about big government, given by no less than Ben Franklin and second president of the United States, John Adams. Here are the quotes:

"But early on, Ben Franklin warned, "Beware; if the congressmen discover they can appropriate funds by taxation for their own purposes, the republic will be lost."

And on Oct. 11, 1798, President John Adams stated in his address to the military: "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, or revenge, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Thanks Pat Boone, for the wisdom and insight. Mr. Boone is a descendant of Daniel Boone - his relatives were there when this country was started. But it's not Boone, it's the words, the thoughts, the ideas grasped by a core of individuals who understood what tyranny was and what it would take to build a truly free nation. Proof of their keen understanding (it comes from the Lord, not man), is shown in their words of forebodding.

We forgot about the rules. Oh, everybody knows right from wrong (you'd think, eh?). But we went to sleep and as long as we were taken care of, we let the rules become twisted, self-serving and even perverted. At our expense. Not just our money, but our freedom.

And, judging by what all my friends are going through, we're not so taken care of anymore. Is it too late to fix? You tell me.

Bacon and Bourbon, and Somewhere, Catfish

There's a fresh piece of catfish under there, look close!

I like the new Analon skillet and it was about time I cooked some fish. The flavors came together, so here we go:

1/2 catfish filet
3 strips of bacon (i've found nitrate free, Hormel, I think)
1/4 bermuda onion
orange zest and a little juice
a few baby carrots
bourbon (just enough to make the fish and chef happy)
fresh parsely
peanuts
three mushrooms, sliced
green peas
olive oil
Earth Balance spread
whole wheat spaghetti (i used capellini, which is thin spaghetti, for this one)


Start by grinding 1/2 tsp. ea of these herbs:
granulated garlic
granulated onion
coarse ground black pepper or peppercorns
basil
oregano
parsely flakes

Put 2/3 of this mixture into the boiling pasta and the rest (later) into the fish dish.

Fry the bacon. Add the catfish, tablespoon of Earth Balance spread. Add chopped or sliced onion. Add about a tablespoon of olive oil. Throw in a handful of peanuts. Add the mushrooms, carrots and the orange zest (squeeze in a little juice).

As it all starts to brown, add a splash of bourbon. Add the rest of the herbs. Add fresh parsely and the peas towards the end.

I cooked the peas separately in the remaining juice - either way is fine.

In the bowl:

pasta, crumbled bacon, peanuts, kosher salt, more pepper, parmesean or any shredded italian cheese, a little olive oil.

Put the fish/onion, etc. on top with the peas and parsely at the very top. a little more kosher salt and you're done!

If He Were Among Us Now

"The constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."-Patrick Henry

Darwin, can you hear me?

This morning, Dennis Miller came up with the best Darwin line I've ever heard. Ready?

"God created Darwin."

And so...

It's been awhile. I'm grateful for my friends on Facebook - sort of a new venture. A lot of opportunities are opening up for me, just wish some would pay the bills.

Upcoming concert: The Jamezband, Wednesday Aug. 26 at The Bollingbrook Theater for the Performing Arts. James is James Fairs, a true visionary. In another life long ago yet not so far away, he co-founded the Cryan' Shames. They delighted our world in the late 60s.

For the few of you who might not know, that's James to my right in the photo. We jammed at his house in May, and if I am further blessed, we'll do it again.

I am wrapping up my house and home and moving on - we fervently hope - to greener pastures.

Chicago IS Siberia in the winter! But...sometimes in winter...

What a summer! Except for the parking fees and murders, Chicago should be the resort capitol of the season. We have some of the coolest attractions anywhere. Anybody know if the "Chahooly" (I have no idea how to spell his last name) glass exhibit is still at Garfield Park? GP was, only a couple of years back, the center of murder in Chicagoland. Creepy, but I'm still shaking off the effects of watching The Tingler - the old Vincent Price tour de force that was on Svengoolie over the weekend.


Keep on keepin' on Rev Swing Orch. Dot comm. Watching too much Peanut/Jeff Done Hamm. Dot cahmm.

It's great and noble being one of many "keepers of the flame" regarding big band music, but as someone said a few months back when we were playing a club across the street from a cemetery: "All we need to do is turn up. Our fan base is over there!"

Not so true. My friend, Jon McGahan has put together a new band, Stardust, and he has astutely gone into the Lincoln Park neighborhood where his excellent band has been well-received by the young locals.

Till next time!

Why Do Pigeons Have Red Eyes? And Why I Can’t Stop Singing Sam Cooke’s “Cupid.”

I took the L downtown this morning and when you haven’t ridden the L for a long time, you notice things you used to take for granted.

There weren't many people on the train, and today was a perfect summer day. I almost missed the old commute. A little voice reminded me of the early 80s when I did it daily, through the winter, and at both rush hours, dogged tired. It’s when you learn to sleep standing up.

I think the Lord painted pigeons into the urban landscape when He created it. Ever wonder what pigeons know? Or if they know anything? Pigeons probably covered the dinosaurs. But they have red eyes. OK, blue blocker sunglasses are red. That’s why. Pigeons must be able to see like crazy. You drop a peanut or a piece of popcorn, blam, that pigeon gets it. You don’t give up a morsel, you become a target. Life’s balance.

There are always a few spectacular girls with spectacular figures riding the L. They watch to see if you notice. And it’s cool if you do. But there’s an entire L unspoken, non-verbal communication etiquette. Basically, you DON’T start conversations. “Nice day, isn’t it?” That’s taboo. Read your newspaper or look around, focused, and yet removed. “Thank you,” “Excuse me.” That’s about it.

Everyone observes. There isn’t a soul who doesn’t. Riding the L in the 80s, even before that, is how I learned to create characters. I listened to the conversations, watched what people wore, how they carried themselves, how they looked around, all the while observing L etiquette - be there and at the same time, pretend not to be there.

My business downtown only took a short time, so I walked around and noticed how spruced up the theater district is now, then went back to the subway to catch the train home.

There was a Spanish kid driving his mom crazy because he kept putting his toes over the edge of the platform and leaned over to see if the train was coming. I broke the rule and smiled at her, thinking of stunts my own son has pulled.

It was awhile before the train came. A black guy who I thought was waiting for the eastbound train – he had been there almost as long as us – suddenly broke into song.

He was a busker – you have to have a license for it and I’ve been thinking of doing it. But this guy had a sweet voice like an angel. “Cupid, draw back your bow, oh-ee-oh-oh. And let your arrow go. Straight to my lover’s heart for me.”

I walked over and put a buck in his little bag. He looked me in the eye, nodded, and kept singing. By now (I’m writing this a couple hours later) I bet his bag is filled. The Spanish kid walked over and gave him some change.

The train came and I sat next to a young lady. The seat faced backwards to the direction of the train. I don’t have a preference. Either way, the vibration of the ride felt good on my back and legs.

L etiquette: you sit still for the first few minutes. Otherwise, you’re typed. I’ve seen it. After a stop or two you relax and break out the paper or take a drink from your water bottle. You’ve assimilated and are now a rider. You weren’t before. The first two stops are like probation. Now you’re fine and can look around.

Three years I’ve been working out with weights. Dumbbells. I’m not what they call “cut” (I don’t like that term) but my upper bod is getting toned and I’m more bulky now. Enough to think about wearing muscle shirts or tank tops again. Still have to lose a little more around the middle. Three inches and 7 lbs. in 3 months. No beer and no potato chips!

A guy my age got on. He was lanky rather than thin, but he had great arms. I see why guys wear cut-off shirts, etc. We like to show off, too.

There were plenty of girls with all different figures on the train. It’s summer and tank tops rule. For a straight guy, if you don’t think the female breast is comforting and wonderful (and leave it at that), any other thought is perved.


A guy got on in the middle of the ride and sat in the sideways seat next to where I was sitting. He looked liked Santana, or at least a Santana fan, from Woodstock. Black permed hair, curly, not a fro, he was white, thick beard. He was much too young to have been born during Woodstock, but he looked like he was. He wore dark, wrap around shades and had his ipod or whatever plugged in. He moved around right away, didn’t observe L etiquette.

He popped his legs up, crossed them. There was a ways to go before my stop, so I watched this young man, grooving or whatever it’s called now, to the tune he was hearing. A thin, gorgeous black girl got on with an infant in tow. The tyke was as cute as his mom and already had a pretty good fro going. The lady and her girlfriend (or sister) stood in the right side door with the stroller. That was ok because the doors would open on the left for the rest of the stops.

I wondered how the guy singing “Cupid” was doing.

The Santana guy jerked his leg and three quarters tumbled out of his shorts. One stayed on the empty seat next to him, one went on the floor, and the other rolled past me and stopped a seat or two down.

I tapped him on the shoulder and showed him. He didn’t care. “That’s OK.” Another guy told him his quarters were all over the floor, so he went to get them. L etiquette – the guy sitting across from him – tank top, short hair, toned, middle aged, looked at me and grinned. See what I mean? It doesn’t matter what you look like, race or gender, L etiquette is L etiquette.

Another guy got up, went to the door, and put an unlit cigarette in his mouth. I can’t imagine or remember if they ever let people smoke on the CTA. Not when I drove a bus in ’73-’74.

I got up too and stood next to him. He pulled the cig out of his mouth. L etiquette. We all got off. Most people were polite, except for those fighting for seats to O’Hare, the end of the line.

Pigeons have iridescent feathers and bright red eyes. They act like our cat, getting in and out of your way to let you know they need to be fed. Or else.

(photo by Graham Garfield)

Aay?

Yesterday, the girl at the checkout counter in the supermarket asked me if I wanted the Senior Discount.

You bet I do.

I went home and looked in the mirror. Who me? I don't look any different...than someone approaching 60, I guess.

Except I'm not. In fact I was still getting carded, CARDED at 48.

I made her guess my age. For a couple of minutes she went through the routine of pretending not to hear, making me repeat everything, just to wear me down and have a little fun.

She said, "see, I was close." So what was the discount? After more repeating, she finally said it was 10%. Whew, 62 here I come!

And I'll get back to her once I find out if they discount haircuts to girls under 17.

Lib No Longer

This started as a response to a friend of mine, questioning my politics. It’s a position paper, clearing the air about where I’ve come from and why I believe the way I do.


Put me to the right of Abbie Hoffman. Please understand that I was once far left. I went to college in the late 60s – early 70s and was deeply involved in that movement as we all thought we had a better idea. I understand it all too well – the
Weather Underground, Fred Hampton, Mark Clark who were murdered (I knew them a little as they spoke at my college and I covered their appearances when I was on the newspaper).

With all the peace and love abounding and promises of “the revolution” and the ubiquitous “bleep the establishment” (hey, we won, eh?) I started questioning motives.

What bothered me the most was amidst all the peace/love, ethics were slipping. The sense of right and wrong was vaporizing into a gray area. Morality was becoming relative. Under the guise of love, justice and mercy, the baby was being thrown out with the bath water and much of the altruism going on seemed to be a smokescreen for the great "I". I needed the truth, for real – a real bottom line.

I found it, as did many others, especially the ex-hippies, yippies, et.al. of that era, in the Lord. His word finally settled the questions and issues I was having. It took seven years of floundering after college, seeking, going through what I had to go through, but in the end, I found it, in spades.

And even then, it took years of going to various churches, being involved as a Christian person, reading God’s word in the spirit, to find out that it’s not church people, denominational differences, shallowness, hypocrisy (oh, I’ve discovered plenty) that mattered – it was ME, working on my own personal baggage and my own relationship with Jesus Christ, that was the most important thing in my life.

If Libs could only do some of what they do in the name of God and stop being so self-serving, some of what they do would actually help. But they have to mean it. Hand me the rib tape, please.

I'm still somewhat irreverent, irascible, whacky, etc, but best of all, I now have that bottom line. People don't seem to understand. Unfortunately, those who have taken that step (crossed the threshold as Pope John Paul put it – he wrote a book with that title) smell funny to people who haven't. None of us are perfect.

That said, there are other people, under the guise of religion, who are trying to wipe us out, period. Annihilate us and this country. There is no other way to put it. The current administration has a great idea of extending an olive branch to hostile nations and terrorist groups. I get that. This philosophy is straight out of the hippie movement. In fact if anyone gets the notion to protest, just run photos of these folks from the 60s! But anyway, peace, love and appeasement – that’s a great blackboard philosophy and as Christians, that is how we should treat each other.

But in practice, it’s not worth the toilet paper that should be used to wipe it off the blackboard. Huh? Lemme explain, in case nobody's ever thought of this: the others may not necessarily accept peace, love and the truly nice, gentle, open, loving, generous, well-meaning, egalitarian people that we are. They have their own agenda – to kill us. In the name of their God.

Americans, the whole ecumenical lot of us – Christian, Jew, Muslim, et. al. had better remember how to defend ourselves militarily, socially, and culturally, or we're going to lay down like a limp dishrag and this country is going to disappear by default.

I can feel it coming. For me, the bottom line is the Lord's word. What’s the problem with that? I’ve read the book. All of it. And when He gets pissed off, look the hell out! Revelation: white horse, flaming sword coming out of His mouth, name written on His thigh.

I'm forever glad I chose to be on His side. My life experiences and choices I've made have all pointed me in His direction. He will be victorious in the end, and we who endure and keep His word (best we can, I raise my hand) are invited to share in that victory.

Now let's make some music!