The National ill

The National ill

(by R.P.Edwards)

I resign myself

To the National ill

As evil rises

And has its fill

With God debased

And man...held high

If not abated

We'll surely

Die

Ah, it's Mother's Day (nearing the end thereof) and although I had thought to drop a line or two in praise of mothers who truly are, the national dialogue on President Obama's weigh-in on same sex marriage grabs my attention.

I fear for my country. Why? Well, it's not that a prominent politician (decent fellow that he is) is on the wrong side of the God issues (abortion, marriage), but that, from recent polling...it seems so many of my neighbors are leaning in the same direction.

You see (and call me naive) but I really do believe that this nation had a divine birth.  That deity was mentioned four times in the Declaration of Independence...deliberately.  And that, what was so obvious in the beginning (that WE need HIM), now we wise inheritors have assigned the Almighty to the role of flavor or tint.  He is insignificant.  A "not real anyway" inconvenience.  A vestige organ in our body politic.

But, dear reader, it behooves us to recall that so many of our modern "ministers;" (the 'mouths,' if you will) be they in academia, the media, Hollywood, Washington, or even behind a once sanctified church pulpit; it behooves us to remember that our blessed America came not one whit from these who so confidently dare to define what is right; and what is wrong.

And so...I fear.  I fear that we who dance the dance of carefree apostasy; hopping, and skipping, and twirling ever farther from our stable center and ever closer to the precipice of pride; I fear that without a national revival...we will surely, soon, step off...and in.

And, as for me--as the once unthinkable becomes thunk and done-- I cannot fathom how any person who cracks their Bible, and believes; I cannot fathom how one of these of genuine faith can enter the sacred booth and cast their vote for those who mock their God and invite His rebuke.

****

We Pigs?

Pretty Please

(by R.P.Edwards)

Would it be possible

Pretty please

To lean towards good

And not towards...sleaze?

To practice truth

In the inward part

Where outward polish

Reflects the heart

When words like "honor"

Include your skin

To love the light

And shun the sin

To tame the flesh

With its wayward ways

To pause the paws

To kneel...and pray

Oh, is it possible?!

In this tawdry time

To remember virtue

And make it mine

To choose the better

Though 'gainst the flow

To walk the walk

The selfless...show

And build anew

With common stones

A republic worthy

Of God..to own

And give the children

At our knees

Who reach and whisper

"Pretty please."

⁶ Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?
⁷ A righteous man who walks in his integrity— How blessed are his sons after him. 

(Proverbs 20:6,7 NAS)

In response to those of the Secret Service who were doing a, er, Disservice to us all.  

I'll not belabor the point.  Some of our "protect the President" professionals were caught doing unprofessional things with prostitutes.  Yes, shameful. Yes, disturbing.  But, to this weary one who tires of "our" tendencies towards the tawdry...it's just plain sad.

Yes, I know we universally have the "flesh" to deal with.  And yes, I know the human heart naturally leans towards the unclean; thus we need a Savior (and yes I'm a big fan of the second chance.) But can't we, at least today, can't we at least TRY to be moral; try to be virtuous; try to be someone our heritage might possibly be proud of? And maybe, once we get our own house in order, perhaps we can remind those over us that it would be nice if they...set the example.

****

 

April fools

Atheist Day

(by RPEdwards)

Agnostic?

Yeah, I get it

They say that they're not sure

But Atheists

They're different

Their faith is strong...and pure

The Agnostic is uncertain

A candidate for school

But the Atheist

He knows it all!

So God declares,

"The fool!"

It was billed as "The Reason Rally." An out of the closet sort of thing concerning Atheists and their ilk.  Yes, "finding their voice," this growing minority is letting us know that they exist...and that they vote.  Take that, Religious Right!

Not much to say, but, as April Fools Day is--at this writing--tomorrow; I would like to commend the ralliers at placing their pronouncement so close to their holiday.  Not to be cruel, but the inherited America we enjoy; the inherited America that supplies the luxury and leisure for lunacy...it was birthed, mainly, by those who believed in someone greater than themselves, a divine someone who created, and endowed, and is the Supreme judge of the world.

**** 

Awkward we

The Awkward Stage

(by R.P.Edwards)

The awkward stage

The in-between

From ugly duck

To beauty queen

From crawling bug

To butterfly

Betwixt the two

Unsettled...I

And so, thus burdened

To the store

To purchase bread

But home...with more

For there I heard

The grocery sage

"We're always in...

the awkward stage."

"How long did it take?" I asked.  The setting: the grocery store. I was on some menial gathering errand. A "we need one more item to complete it" recipe run.  And there before me--as I paused midst the sauces and salad dressings--in simple shorts and shirt, was a gent of similar age (I would say "older," but that so often is not the case these days) with long graying hair that he had simply tamed by pulling back and restraining with an elastic band. Simplicity itself. The low maintenance solution to which I aspire.  And so I asked, "How long did it take to grow your hair that long?"

"Oh, a year or two," said he.

And then I added (since my locks are far from the desired length), "It's only been about six months for me. I'm in that "awkward stage.""

He paused a moment, and, with a little knowing chuckle gently added, "We're always in that "awkward stage.""

I had to laugh at this bit of unexpected insight.  And, as we parted company I realized that philosophers are ever in our midst. Even in the grocery aisle.

____

Yes, much to my wife's chagrin, I have decided to rebel against the ever present and pressing "have to's" by simply doing...nothing. Maybe its middle-aged madness, or merely a wistful revisit to longer hair of forty years ago; whatever the psyche or psychosis, since my occupation cares little about our individual "package," and since mama has less interest in "molding" the old man...I let it grow.  But, the road to the tail...is a long one.  And before that blessed state, when hair doing consists of a pull and a twist...I am in the awkward stage.

____

Super Tuesday has come and gone. Romney leads, but his anointing is not certain.  We are indeed in an "awkward stage" in this choosing of a champion.  But, it is a necessary trip. An arduous journey that has no short cuts (pun intended).  And, I am believing, when all is said and done, when the next president (not the current one) is sworn in, that I will be watching the joyous event with my locks neatly locked...in a ponytail behind.  Or, if I find the style unsavory, perhaps I'll consider the "dome" look. Hmmm....

****

 

Christie says, "I don't!"

Marriage

(by R.P.Edwards)

It's not the same!

It's not the same!

Though some would fight

To claim the name

The marriage bond

By God ordained

All other "joins"

Are not the same!

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.

(Mark 10:9)

 "I am adhering to what I've said since this bill was first introduced -- an issue of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide,"

Post-poem; the first quote comes from the incarnate Word; the Son of the Living God; the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the Light of the world; the Good Shepherd; the Redeemer; the Savior; the Advocate...Jesus Christ. The second quote comes from the Governor of New Jersey upon his decision to follow through with the promised veto of gay-marriage legislation.

Alas, once again the favored few have latched onto the new "right" (as in "right and wrong") and tried to cram down the throats of the many their value system that insists that "man plus man" is in all ways equal to "woman plus man." In other words, saying the God of the Bible; the one referenced four times in the Declaration of Independence...got it wrong again.

  

Thankfully the governor of said state put a stop to Representative madness and made, once again, the sane and sensible call for a state-wide referendum on such an important issue.

And, of course, I'm not anti-individual.  But I am very much desirous of reasons for God to continue to...Bless America.  And, dear reader, continually calling Him a liar...is not the way to get there.

****

The Verdict

Judging Judges

(by RPEdwards)

Wayward Judges

What to do

Amendment?

Heavens NO!

Have People's Reps

Take simple steps

And have the judge

de-robed

In the news: Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg thinks the new Egyptian government should "not" use the U.S. Constitution as their model when drafting a foundational document of their own. Alas.

Now, I don't think such comments by the honorable jurist warrant "resignation," but it does remind me of Supreme Court decisions past that would have the founders, at the very least, scratching their wigs.  Abortion, Gay marriage, prayerless schools, eminent domain gone a muck, to name a few.  Yes, when high judges get it wrong...it's hard to fix. That's why, rather than the tedious Amendment route, impeachment needs to be seriously considered. Better yet...let's keep presidents in the White House that don't want to rewrite...what was written.

For your amusement; The American Kings...  

****

Santorum

At Stake

(by R.P.Edwards)

Freedom at stake

The sacred thread

From barely born

To patriots...dead

Precious cargo

Ship of state

But how few know

That

Freedom's...at stake

"Freedom's at stake." Words from former Senator, Rick Santorum, upon his victories in the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses, as well as the non-binding Missouri contest.  Just caught a little of his speech...and it was stirring.

You know, I've always liked the Senator, but, like many, I figured he didn't have a chance...so I didn't want to invest too much emotion or attention on his candidacy.  But now...well, perhaps these recent victories will cause others...to consider.

I'll not belabor his conservative positions, but there is something about the man--in this day when "character matters" is too often a slogan, and not a practice--there's something about this man that grabs at that part of my being that yearns; no, cries out! for examples of honor.  And though I'm a firm believer in repentance, and the second and third chance, oh, for those who never stray too far.  For those who wrestle into submission those wayward thoughts and drives (and we all have them)...before they become attitudes...and actions.

So, congratulations to the Senator.  I hope he goes far and, without question, if his is the name on the ballot this coming November, my personal portion will go...to him.

In the little research I did for this piece I ran across the following youtube video where Mr Santorum speaks of his precious daughter, Isabella. If you have a few moments...please watch.