Facebook is 20/20

Just as hindsight is 20/20; Facebook accounts can either make you count your blessings or make you gnash your teeth. I wrote a blog entry about 6 years ago talking about the women in my life that were “special”. I don’t think Facebook was quite the attraction it is today, but that was a good thing in 2006.

Since then Facebook has added about 800 Million new accounts and several of the people on that list have had the courage to upload recent “profile pictures” (ah the good ol’ profile picture). I’m sure many of them are 10 years old, but it’s easy to tell how recent the profile pic is if they’ve uploaded other pictures of more recent events and you can’t really pick out which one is your old heart throb.

Since my blog article, I’ve been able to see pictures of about half of the people on that list. One who didn’t make that list turned out to be homosexual. (whew, it wasn’t me). One who was a real heart breaker just let things go and gave in to her hungry appetite and another who “was” a model is showing the results of long nights of partying and possibly serious drug and alcohol use. I was crushed because I thought I wasn’t good enough for either of them.

“Sometimes God’s greatest blessings are unanswered prayers” – Garth Brooks

My point is our childhood/early adult insecurities are there to protect us. Unfortunately, I blame the divorce rate in America for casting these insecurities on our country’s youth. When you lose a parent by divorce or by death at a young age, you try to replace that person with someone else. This is such a natural but flawed response. The cycle of insecurity only propagates more insecurity and more divorce.

Parents, the best thing you can do for your children is to love each other. To those 30 and under who have been abandoned by a parent; there is nothing wrong with you. Focus on being the person God meant for you to be.



Ace out...

But Mitt Romney made his dog ride on the roof !!!!!

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE

How does anyone know what love is?

L is for the way you “LOOK” at me…..
O is for the ONLY ONE” I see……
V is “VERY VERY” Extra Ordinary
E is “EVEN” more than anyone that you adore
- Nat King Cole

That doesn’t help me. I think if you had parents that loved you, as in,”only a mother could love” It would come easier. My parents died when I was young so I have to read about it in sappy novels or listen to “ballads” OR:

The Dictionary - Definition of LOVE
1
(1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties (2) : attraction based on sexual desire: affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests b : an assurance of affection
2
: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion
3
a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration b (1): a beloved person : darling —often used as a term of endearment (2) British —used as an informal term of address
4
a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God
5
: a god or personification of love
6
: an amorous episode : love affair
7
: the sexual embrace : copulation
8
: a score of zero (as in tennis)
9
Capitalized Christian Science: god



Then you read The Holy Bible in Corinthians Chapter 13 where Paul writes:
The Excellence of Love

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Man, this kind of Love sure doesn’t meet any of the Webster definitions! What about Gandhi’s saying that man can not love and hate at the same time? He claims life is one indivisible whole. He says you can’t do good things in one aspect of life and try to do bad things in another. I don’t get it. Paul says in essence: If you do loving things, but don’t have Love (The noun) then: “I am nothing” or “It profits me none”. Gandhi says: If I hate something, it is impossible for me to love something else.

The Author Matthew Kelly writes: “We love people and use things”(Never to be confused)

Love is more than mortal man can describe. Love is all or nothing at all. Love is a Paradigm.
John 3:16 is on posters seen at sporting events and revivals. It tells of God’s love for the world that He sacrificed His own Son so man could have everlasting life. Ironically, John (The Apostle) wrote in his 1st letter, I John 3:16 – “We know love by this that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”.

Love carries the commitment “To die for”. If you love someone, you should be willing to lay down your life for them. Do you have that kind of love in your heart? With that description of love, can you honestly say you love chocolate? If you died and were standing at the throne of judgment how could you prove you had “Love” in your life? The more I understand love the less I believe it has anything to do with accomplishments.

Peter wrote: “Faith without works is dead”, but what about Love? Must I die for the brethren to prove my love? I was willing to lay down my life for my country when I served in the military. Can I say I loved my country? (I literally ducked under bullet fire)

The ultimate question is this: “Would you give your heart so someone else could live”? That is real LOVE. Many proud Heroes of the Armed Forces have thrown their bodies on grenades to save their fellow troops. That is real LOVE. Love demands courage.

The more I study love the more I begin to see the Bible’s definition of love as this tremendous FORCE that is a giant glowing power that resides in the soul of the righteous. It’s a power that consumes your actions, thoughts and existence. Could real LOVE be your connection to the after life? Are we here to cultivate this power? George Carlin, before he died, said he thought God was a giant pulsating Orb. Of course George thought it was just a secular non-judgmental creature. I’m beginning to think that God is the source of the power of Love and just as Intel chips are found in many computers; the essence of God can be found in the human soul that has searched for real Love .

God Bless Obama, The Dodgers and other Enemies

I’m a born again Giants Fan. Yep. I was raised on Willie Mays (Met him several times) Willie McCovey, Dave Kingman, Ron Hunt, Hal Lanier, Jim Ray Hart, Ken Henderson, The Alous Trio, Bobby (NOT BARRY) Bonds, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, and Dick Dietz.

In the early 70’s, Horace Stoneham had to deal with free agency as did all the ML general Managers. This changed the face of major league Baseball. Most teams started doing their own version of “Money Ball” out of necessity. As for “MY GIANTS” Willie Mays got traded to the Mets for Charlie Williams (WHO?) and $50,000. Willie was replaced by Gary Maddox who proved to have a decent career over the next 16 years, mostly with the Phils, but he basically kept centerfield warm for the supposed 2nd coming of Mickey Mantle from Oklahoma, a gentleman named “Bobby Murcer”. There is one truth in baseball, “potential” can not hit for you. The Giants have never had a centerfielder even come close to the caliber of Mays since he last grazed the centerfield grass of Candlestick Park in 1972. (But I digress)
The Fire sale continued as Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry was traded to Cleveland for “Sudden” Sam McDowell. (Who left his heart in SF and his pitching arm in Cleveland) Jim Ray Hart went to the Yankees, Ron Hunt went back to the Dodgers and Willie McCovey became the Big Mac, not because of his 6’4” 210 lbs, but because he was traded to San Diego (owned by Roy Krok/McDonald’s)
I recognized nobody. I did however live just minutes from the Oakland Coliseum. During the late 70’s the A’s were known as the “Boat People” of the American league. You could buy a 3rd deck ticket for about 3.00 bucks and sit right behind the plate. So my baseball paradigm changed in 1977. I learned to love Baseball, not just the home team. My kids were raised on green and gold and got to meet all of the players. I met Tony La Russa several times at his animal care foundation in Danville.
After the great 1988, 1989, 1990 Championships The A’s would exercise the principles of the book “Money Ball” and talent came and went. We as fans, knew never to get attached to great rookies because it was in the system to have their replacement groomed by the time they reached free agency status. Part of understanding Love is allowing the loved one the freedom to pursue greater opportunities in the free market.

By the end of the century, I had developed a love for the game.

I can watch any game on T.V. and tell you who the talent is, who the great prospects are and who’s probably going to be released or traded. But in doing so, I started to notice what intrigue I had for the San Francisco Giants minor league system. They had drafted young guns like Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgardner and of course “BUSTER POSEY”. They had just let go of their national embarrassment “Barry Bonds”. So in 2010, it was sort of OK to be a Giants fan again. I think many who left in 1973; then again in 2003 (Steroids) felt the air had cleared.
Love forces you to think about the big picture. My love for baseball doesn’t hinge on who the Giants or A’s sign or put on waivers. The Bible says Love covers a multitude of sins. Love also gives you an abundance of appreciation for that which you would otherwise consider miserable, painful, annoying and disgusting. John Lennon wrote: “All you need is Love”.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

What would the Giants be without the Bums. (The Dodgers) Would America have ever appreciated the free market, liberty, freedom and American exceptionalism had it not been threatened by Barack Obama? Many have said that John McCain would have lead us down a road of slow death. Obama's power grab is waking us up (Hopefully) in time to feel the boiling water. Unlike McCain who would have gradually increased the temperature of the water in the pot that killed the frog.

Have Love in your heart as well as your entire physical incarnated body. Then and only then will you enjoy life AND stand a little closer to God.

I Survived Beyond and Back - Revisited

The 2nd season of I survived "Beyond and Back", a reality show about Near Death Experiences, has run 4 episodes into the new season. I personally think the show, in an effort to break a rut, Jumped the great white on the season opener when one woman, a victim of a car accident, drowned and her spirit was abducted by ................(breath deep) ALIENS.

The Paradigm that Bio is propagating is a "Life after Death" proposal. People die for a limited time,(sometimes up to 30 minutes) and return with memories of the other side. The majority of NDErs claim to experience a sense of euphoria. They describe a warm feeling of "Love". Most use the term "Unconditional Love". Several experience a tunnel with a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Some just feel a bright, almost Xenon blinding light. Most of these great feelings are accompanied by a deceased relative, a biblical figure or in some cases Jesus or the Great Almighty Himself. They say they saw their life review. Some contend it was a split second while other say it felt like an eternity. Eventually, the recently deceased is either given a choice to return to their incarnate life, or they are just told, you have no say and it's NOT YOUR TIME.

Those less fortunate see something they describe as a demonic creature. Some come straight out and say they saw the devil. These people tend to describe darkness and a feeling of fear, dread and regret. In some cases, the recently deceased is "rescued" by Jesus and is returned to their incarnate body.

I have studied the NDE cases at NDE.org and I want to share my opinion on the Idea of an after life and what the NDErs bring back to share with us.

It's my belief. (My humble opinion) That you aren't dead just because your heart stops beating. You are not dead even if you see your incarnate body laying on the ground while you hover over it. You're not dead even when you watch your life pass before you and you see a being that resembles Charlton Heston with wings. What you are seeing is what you NEED to SEE. Let me give you an example.

Waiting rooms are usually never indicative of the back of the doctor's office. Especially if he's got a box of "finger cots" next to the exam table.

If you've ever gone to the stadium and smelled the wonderful smell of the tail gate parties that are doing Bar-B-Que Ribs and Sausages but forgot your tickets; You never saw the game. I've always felt that NDErs get to peek behind the curtain. But I've also felt that there's another curtain behind the curtain. The real after life. What you're seeing is the waiting room. Not the real physically dead's after life.

Scientist use to say that we only use about 12% of our brain and 10% of our DNA. In fact they arrogantly call the other 90% "JUNK DNA". But perhaps the rest of our brain has historical programs that we gain access to when our body thinks it's crossing over. Passing out, is actually your body's defense mechanism to perceived pain. Endorphins can be as powerful as Heroin if released in a "Bolus". So, are they really seeing the other side or is there brain keeping them busy while they're being revived?

I believe they are actually knocking on the after life's beautiful door. Some where hidden away in your brain is the connect between the incarnated life (The physical life) and the perceived destination of your after life (The Ethereal). When the people who feel the Euphoria come back with a new attitude of death they often speak of not wanting to come back. They speak of not fearing death. As I wrote in the first web log entry on this show; They are 100% correct. Do not fear the after life. Fear TODAY.

I believe in a biblical after life. I believe in a judgment day. I believe that you are judged, not by your works here in the physical, but by the spiritual connection between you and the Creator. I've read in the bible where a man condemned to hell wants to return to warn his brother of the after life and is not allowed to. I've also read where Jesus brings his dear friend Lazarus back from the dead. (After 4 days). The bible also leads us to speculate on other possibilities of the after life, yet the persistent message is what I described the first sentence of this paragraph. It's your relationship with your savior which is important. You may not (As several NDErs say) have a choice after you physically die and your spirit crosses over to the other side.

Perhaps the Kingdom of Heaven has never been so close at hand. In the end, this show is about NDEs or NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES, NOT DEATH EXPERIENCES.


Ace out.........

Ronnie Montrose 1947 - 2012

The first REAL ROCK & ROLL BAND I WAS IN was a band that covered much of the Hit music from 1974. We did Edgar Winter's music, Rick Derringer's music and something both had in common; Ronnie Montrose's music. We would do almost all of the material from the MONTROSE and Warner Brothers presents albums. Ronnie never was as big as many felt he should have been. Ronnie was also constantly being replaced in one way or another first by Rick Derringer in The Edgar Winter Group, then in his own band, Sammy Hagar left Montrose for his own solo career before becoming the lead man for Van Halen.

From what just came out of the San Mateo County Coroner's office, Ronnie died of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The real truth is, Ronnie died of low self esteem. He struggled with fame and became an under rated over achiever. In a world of Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen,and Alvin Lee, I think it was Ronnie that taught me that faster wasn't always "cooler". Ronnie thought like an artist. He never gave into fashion. Not even when KISS was releasing a disco song. (I was made for loving you).

But Ronnie, why did you have to take the coward's way out? You could have taken up golf for goodness sakes. You could have become a video gamer and slipped into a cyber world. It wasn't time for you to go Ronnie..... It just isn't right.

I will cry two cups of tear before I'm over this.

Ace out

The Irony of Pleasing God

The Irony of Pleasing God
Don't listen to the TV evangelist that says "Hey send God your money (to this address) and you'll recieve blessing 10 fold." ie, "Give to GET". Let me point out a few observations.

1. In Genesis 4, "The Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering". What was the next thing that happened to Abel? He died at the hands of his jealous brother Cain.

2. Genesis 39: Joseph denies Potopher's wife. Keeping himself Holy and pleasing to the Lord. What happened? 9 to 13 years of Jail time.

3. Genesis 40: Joseph interprets the cup bearer's dream. Result? 3 more years of Jail time.

4. Job . Need I say more?

The one lesson you can learn from the above examples is that life is not fair. Call it the price of free will. Yet we are still called to "give of our means". It's a demonstration of faith. Just don't do it expecting a bountiful return on your investment. All things are from God. So you're not really giving anything at all to God. You're just giving back a portion of what He's blessed you with. And I urge you to do so "cheerfully".

Just don't fall for the Media evangelist that's selling you on a 1000% interest rate. This is probably the same evangelist that will sell you on salvation by repeating this simple prayer "insert the I believe prayer here" . Then go on with your sinful ways and claim that you're "once saved and always saved". Don't fall for it.

Mormons & Black Lib Theology

Mormons and Black Liberation Theology


As we draw closer to the end of the GOP Primary, one issue is bound to become a low blow. “He’s a Mormon”. I’m surprised at how many of my favorite people are members of the Mormon faith. Their character is impeccable. The person that truly turned my life around was Dr. Stephen R. Covey. His huge best seller “7 habits of highly effective people” was life changing for me. Before he achieved fame on Fox, and even before his show on CNN; I followed a Radio Talk show host named Glenn Beck. Beck converted when he married his wife. I use to listen to his syndicated show back in the mid 90’s. My favorite football player of all time (OK, besides Jerry Rice) would be Steve Young. I was a Steve Young fan even while I was friends with Joe Montana.

I won’t comment on either religion as I haven’t worshipped in either church. I know the church I was raised in would consider any religion other than them damned and destined for hell. Yes it’s a Christian fundamentalist church that claims every thing they practice is a “strict interpretation of the bible”. They would consider Mormons no different from Baptists who are no different from Buddhists or Muslims.

That being said, I don’t think I’ve ever had any president in my lifetime try and impose their religious beliefs on me. This current one may be imposing his religious influence on the whole country through executive power. You have to do a lot of research to even begin to understand where our president’s religion originated. (Black Power)

So I can’t judge the religions other than to say they’re both different from what I studied on Sunday. What I can say is that the Mormons that I have had the chance to meet and interact with are easily some of the finest and most trustworthy people I’ve ever met. I did try to come up with a list of notable members from each church. The bible says “You will know a tree by its fruit”.


MORMONS Notable Members

Mitt Romney – Presidential candidate, former Governor of Massachusetts
Stephen R. Covey – Best selling Author
Glenn Beck – Network owner, Talk show host
John Huntsman Sr. - Businessman
John Browning – Gun designer
Steve Young - Hall of Fame NFL quarterback

BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY Notable Members

Barak Obama 44th POTUS
Jeremiah Wright – Clergy 20 years for Barak Obama
James Cone – Founder of Black Liberation Theology
Fidel Castro – Cuban dictator
Che’ Guevara – Revolutionary mass murderer
Oprah – Network owner, Talk show host

Ron Paul in 2012

The Importance of RON PAUL IN 2012

As Rick Santorum plays the waiting game and Newt Gingrich gets the thrill of having his picture taken at 50.00 bucks a shot, another often overlooked candidate remains steady and true to his convictions.

Ron Paul.

Ever since the gang of 13 got together to earn their shot at Obama, Ron Paul was the only other candidate to have a dedicated national campaign in place. (Besides Mitt Romney) It’s safe to say that Ron Paul supporters are the most devoted die-hard supporters in politics. Many supporters of Ron Paul favor his Libertarian stance on the legalization of drugs. This coupled with his isolationist foreign policy make him quite a palatable alternative to the DNC which has been co-opted by the lunatic fringe left. (Pelosi, Lee-Jackson, Obama etc…) But Ron Paul who is a former practicing Gyn/Obstetrician doesn’t exactly excite the GOP base. (His stance on the Federal Reserve not withstanding) This is where Mitt Romney and Ron Paul need to intersect. Ron Paul needs to be part of the Romney administration to play an open role in eradicating the nation of the “creature from Jekyll Island”. (The Federal Reserve Bank) I’m not saying he should be the VP, but perhaps secretary of the treasury.

Mitt Romney will be targeted as a “one-percenter”. Pundits of the FED claim it is a scam that has been ripping off tax-payers since 1913. Ron Paul and his zeal for taking down the FED would be as welcomed as John Bolton’s appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. under Bush 43.

An open endorsement of Romney by Ron Paul would be a huge advance in the war of 2012. The Republican Party needs to extend a warm welcome to John Stossel, Ron Paul, and their Libertarian followers. It wouldn’t hurt the Republicans to take a serious look at the Idea of decriminalizing certain drugs. An Idea that would lower the prison population could save millions of tax payer dollars. This is an Idea most Mormons like Romney would be reluctant to accept. (More on Mormons and the Presidency tomorrow)

If the GOP is counting on the evangelicals to hold their nose and vote for Romney, they would be smart to go after the Independents as an insurance policy. The more Romney moves towards the center, the more he alienates the far right GOP base. Ron Paul is a fiscal ultra-conservative, a social moderate and a liberal on FP. This is even more reason for Romney to covet Ron Paul.

The GOP needs to show Ron Paul some respect. He’s staying in this race for a reason. All republicans should be concerned with his motives.

The FAT LADY IS SINGING

I think Rick Santorum could have been a good president at another time under different circumstances. While watching the first dozen debates, I felt Rick was hitting solid line drive base hits when Cain was shouting 999 and Rick Perry "Stepped in it". He courageously took on Rick Perry on Immigration, as he did Newt Gingrich. He exposed the lunacy of Ron Paul's Middle East doctrine. But... as those who meant well dropped out; Santorum had to put the rubber to the road. Going toe to toe with Mitt Romney is when Rick lost his message and things got ugly. He saw the Romney ads devour and diminish Newt Gingrich. Then he tried attacking Romney in the same fashion. His frustration level at times brought him to the point of "Whining sound bites" about the Romney machine outspending Santorum 4 to 1, then 6 to 1 now it's 10 to 1.

Reality check: Hollywood and Big Unions are going to be spending way more than Romney is now.

The subtle truth is; the principle that is working for Romney is what is causing Santorum to resort to desperate attacks. Romney has taken this election seriously for a long time now. He has a national campaign in place. Rick and Newt didn't even get on the ballot in several states or precincts. This kind of poor management will not cut through the lies and manipulations the Marxist in chief has planned. In other words, If Rick Santorum can't beat Mitt Romney, or cries about the Romney Campaign; what’s he going to do against the real enemy? Santorum under less vital circumstances would be a much more serious contender. But the narrative has gone from who do you like to "Who is the best candidate to beat the Maoist in the WH"?

Mitt Romney is proving in this long primary that his executive skills will help beat BO & grow this economy. The argument that he's too rich to understand the common man is absurd. You've got a street person in the white house now. How's that working out for America?

Many of Santorum's TV attacks on Romney have actually come from the Obama re-election campaign. That has to make Rick question his real support. Unfortunately, Rick is now starting to use leftist attacks spawned by Obama to save his shadow of a campaign. He's starting to repeat the lies of the Midstream Media. I didn't want to see Rick's campaign come to this. Hopefully the circus will end tomorrow. If Rick gets out, Newt and RP should question why they are still in it.

So should America.