Jesus on display

Forgiveness

(by R.P.Edwards)

Forgiveness, sir

Is of the will

Regardless of the pain

To bring release

Give way to peace

Best done

In Jesus' name

"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

(Luke 23:34)

Spoken by Jesus as He was being crucified

And falling on his knees he cried out with a loud voice, 

"Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

(Acts 7:60)

Spoken by Stephen, the first Christian martyr as he was being stoned to death.

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:21)

Concerning the tragedy in Charleston and the murder of the nine church-goers by the demented young man; my first thought (being alerted by the scrolling headline at the bottom of the screen) was that it was a racist incident. My second thought was that it was ISIS related.

It's been some days and many "stories" have found root in the parishioners blood: gun control vs an armed defense (which had a "gun free zone" element), race relations, mental health, and even the confederate flag.

However, one element that has had some play (and rightly so) is the Christ-like response of some family members towards the troubled and twisted perpetrator. During a bond hearing, where the accused (via video link) faced loved ones of the deceased, he heard words like: "...not allowing hate to win--We are a family that love built, we have no room for hate and we have to forgive--I forgive you--Repent and confess; give your life to Christ--May God have mercy on your soul."

Many were surprised at this other-worldly display. But, to the Jesus lovers among us, this is a natural outpouring from a redeemed spirit. And, if I may, in my experience in the ways of Christian churches; it is  usually the MOST devout who make the extra effort to attend the midweek Bible Study. It only follows that many of their family members would be like minded. And so, what the devil meant for evil...has turned into good. For we have truly seen the love of God...on display.

Following is a youtube link of the hearing.

Victims families addressing Dylann Roof

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The Duggars and D-Day

Media Morality

(by R.P.Edwards)

The media points

With righteous rage

Decries the sin

On every page

And acts as though

Their words have weight

The yellow rags

Of filth...and hate

Hypocrite: : a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs

(Merriam Webster)

Okay, let me see if I have it right; the Duggar family, known for having a lot of kids and living a Christian lifestyle (overly so to some) in front of the cameras, had an issue with their oldest boy (when he was a barely teen) where he inappropriately touched some sisters and one other. The word is molestation. He confessed to his parents; they were shocked, and they dealt with it. And they are hypocrites...why?

You'll have to excuse me. I can be pretty simple in my reasoning, but wouldn't the label of HYPOCRITE come in to play if they, say, filmed the show while this kind of behavior was currently going on? I mean, if, behind the supposed facade of Christian goody goodies there was known "sin" being tolerated? Instead, it seems they were faced with a difficult issue...and they resolved it. That's not hypocrisy. That's Christian reality. 

Listen, I don't look to the media for morality. I believe there's plenty of evidence that points to a leftward tilt; an "anti" christian lean. Whether its their love of infanticide or their exaltation of immoral behavior...they are not to be taken seriously in the pulpit. And, on that note; why the D-Day reference? Well, the anniversary coincided with my closer examination of the Duggar dilemma. And, with the mixing I must conclude that the "morality" of the D-Day generation mirrors more closely the Duggars...than their detractors.

Speaking of "hypocrisy"...the phrase "objective journalism" comes to mind.

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True Tribute

True Tribute

(by R.P.Edwards)

We wave the flag

And bow the head

And whisper thanks

To the honored dead

But a better tribute

Would be instead

To preserve the nation

For which they bled

I wish they had fought one more battle. I’m talking about the World War two generation or, as many rightly call them, the greatest generation. I understand they were tired after saving the world from tyrants and  tyranny but, if they could have just united one more time to focus inward; to push through a needed correction. 

But, they were busy, and the poison was slow in coming, and besides, who would expect evil from high places? I’m talking, of course, of the Supreme Court. Yeah, I know, I’m supposed to be reverential, and I want to be. But, consider this; when the war was reaping hundreds of thousands and kids in public schools across the land were openly praying for dads and brothers, well, the Supreme Court now says that kind of thing is unconstitutional.  Rubbish. And, when the GI’s walked through the concentration camps and saw what the Nazis did to those considered less than human, they had no idea the Supreme Court would authorize the same kind of thing done to the nearly born; to the tune of over 55 million. And now, the unelected over us are considering the complete overthrow of nature’s God by redefining marriage.   

So, what’s the solution? Impeachment? Civil war? No, the Constitution itself has the answer: Article 5, the convention of States.  Two things that are desperately needed are judicial term limits and overrides. For, you see, in America we have no kings; and apparently it’s up to this generation to defend the republic. 

Following is a tribute to the Greatest Generation. I hope their sacrifice was not ultimately...in vain.

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Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

H.R. 36

(by R.P.Edwards)

Mindful Murder

Is ok

Make sure the pain

Has gone away 

Though shredding babies

Is murder still

If it don't hurt

It's fine...to kill

"Your honor! Your honor!" the defendant, (now convicted mass murderer of hundreds) kept pleading with the gray-haired judge (who sat, bent forward, head in hands) as he was led down the long corridor towards the processing center that would be his last stop before a life behind bars. "Your honor, you don't get it! They were asleep! They didn't feel any pain! I killed them in their sleep! That means its not so bad, right? RIGHT?!"

"It's still murder, Mr Burro," said the weary jurist as he leaned back, the images of the grisly crimes still playing in his mind. "They were people, Mr. Burro. PEOPLE! It's wrong to kill PEOPLE!" Then, as the distant armored door could be heard latching and the railings of the lunatic were finally removed from the chamber, the judge sighed and whispered to himself, "Where did such twisted reasoning come from? Heaven help us all."

______________

 H.R. 36 (link provided) has passed the house. In a nutshell: since "babies" in the womb can supposedly feel pain after 20 weeks, its wrong to kill them. Before that time; kill away.

Imagine, debating in the hallowed hall about exactly "when" killing the unborn child is acceptable? Of course, some refuse to acknowledge the blatantly obvious; that the separate human life in utero has worth (including the '73 court that got us into this mess!). So, now those who would carry the abolitionists' mantle must chip away at the offense until such time as the evil is overturned.

In the meantime, watch a clip of Rep Sean Duffy (R-WI), Who finished his remarks with: "What do we stand for in America, if we can't stand up for the most defenseless and voiceless among us?"

 Hear! Hear! Mr. Duffy! Keep doing the Lord's work. For that, sir, is what you're doing.

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Huckabee and the Supreme Court

Of Huckabee
(by R.P.Edwards)

Forget conspiracies 

Forget "the plan"

Forget "bifurcate"

Just see...the man

Seasoned

Reasoned

Moral

Wise

 A needed leader
Let none...despise

Bifurcate? It's a word I heard Glenn Beck utter in a youtube clip relating to Mike Huckabee's "splitting the vote," effect. 

I like Glenn. His opinion has weight. But I think Mr Huckabee's addition to the race is not a detraction or distraction; but rather a reasonable personification of some of the patriotic rhetoric that so eloquently comes from the lips of the more (for now) favored.

In other words; Mike has walked the walk. He's been in the governing "seat" and, not taking away from some who have not, I want an experienced hand on the tiller of this floundering ship of state. A hand and a heart that has been through the firefight of years, not months.

Following is an excerpt from Mike's announcement speech that highlights one particular area of interest (for me):

Many of our politicians have surrendered to the false god of judicial supremacy, which would allow black-robed and unelected judges the power to make law and enforce it-upending the equality of our three branches of government and the separation of powers so very central to our Constitution.  The Supreme Court is not the Supreme Being, and they can’t overturn the laws of nature or of nature’s God.
Government in Washington is dysfunctional because it’s become the roach motel-people go in, but they never come out.  As President I’ll fight for Term limits on all 3 branches of government.

Remember: It was the Supreme Court that removed the stabilizing element of faith from our public schools (ludicrous on its face.)  It was the Supreme Court that found a "right" to murder the 55 million in the womb (and counting). And, it may be the Supreme Court that finds a right in our sacred Constitution that muddies the definition of marriage beyond recognition. And, although many of the hopefuls seemed miffed at the "rulings" of the American monarchs, I KNOW a President Huckabee would push for the removal of King George and the establishment of a court worthy of a Republic.  

So, yeah; I'm a Huckabee fan. But go ahead, shoot your barbs and bombs: He can take it.

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For your amusement: The Huckabee song: a lighthearted, but serious at heart endorsement of the man. And, The Supreme Court Song: pointing out there are still "Kings" among us.

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Armenian Genocide

Genocide

(by R.P.Edwards)

The spirit of genocide

Lingers still

With its lust for blood

And its tombs to fill

And all it needs

To work its will

Are minds that judge

And hands...that kill

 Genocide: the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group
(Merriam Webster) 

"The 1915 massacre of the Armenians by the Turks 
makes one of the blackest pages in all human history.

 It was the first large genocide, planned by German military talent and carried out by Turks."

(From 'A Brief History of Armenia' by Rev. Sarkis Papajian)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:
who can know it?
(Jeremiah 17:9)

It was the mid 1980's and I found myself in the San Joaquin valley in central California. Known for grapes and nuts this fertile real estate also grew a city; Fresno. It was here I became aware of "Armenians" and their story. 

I was attending Fresno State (CSUF) at the time and, as an elective, I took the Armenian History class. Sorry, I don't remember the professor's name (30 years ago) but he was passionate. You see, a great evil had been done to his ancestors--a literal attempt by the Ottoman Turks to murder them ALL--and, although the evidence is overwhelming, the sons of the perpetrators refuse to acknowledge it and, to add insult to injury, in order to satisfy the illusion of political expediency, even our current president will not use the "G" word.

Anyway, not long ago the one hundredth anniversary of the event came and went. There was some media play but, as is so often the case, the need for "new" quickly pushed aside the justice due to 1.5 million murdered Armenians and their "in need of closure" heritage. The story caught my ear, and I remembered a book.

I don't have many remnants of my college years, but this little blue paperback remains. I reread it. And oh, how the Armenians have suffered! Hounded, hunted, mistreated and murdered; their history is replete with examples of slaughter and slavery (interspersed with periods of peace and prosperity) culminating with the event that truly warrants the term...Genocide. On this wise, the following excerpt is from a speech given by someone who was a contemporary and without question understood its depths of depravity:

I have placed my death-head formation in readiness...with orders to them to send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children of Polish derivation and language. Only thus shall we gain the living space which we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?

(Adolf Hitler, Obersalzberg Speech, 1939)

 
I'll not belabor the point. If the reader wants to investigate the matter, there are many resources available. But, if you'll allow me; let me speak just a moment of the human condition. You see, murder is in our make-up. Without apology I believe in the God espoused by the Armenians (the first Christian nation). Indeed, Jesus said the devil was a murderer from the beginning (John 8) and for those who give audience to his whisperings it is only a short journey from self-exaltation to the dehumanizing of others. Justification for murder comes easily to us (if we're not careful). Cain murdered righteous Abel. The Turks murdered the Christian Armenians. The Nazis murdered the descendants of Abraham. And today ISIS and their ilk show their true allegiance. And, again without apology, it was not the Lord's Spirit that walked the halls of the United States Supreme Court when they decided that humans of a certain age...were not worthy of life.

Let me conclude by saying: to those of Armenian descent among us; thank you for your contributions to society. Thank you for your tenacity in holding to your heritage and faith. And although many refuse to acknowledge the plight of your ancestors, and your struggle to honor them; there is at least one more...who does.

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Of Rabbits and Republicans

The Youth

(by R.P.Edwards) 

The "Youth"

They have their good points

Vitality and verve

Passion and compassion

Unmitigated nerve

But often there is ignorance

A blindness in their sway

And choosing these to lead us

Then we'd surely rue the day

It was a Reese's Rabbit (not to be confused with a Rhesus monkey) and, as I peeled away it's outer layer--skinned it, so to speak--the darned thing just kept smiling.

The story: one of my offspring has a "thing" for Reese's peanut butter cups. It's a "go to" gift idea. A no-brainer. However...the proportion of chocolate to peanut butter must be exact. Too much chocolate (which NEVER happens in the normal sized cups) and the offering is rejected. Enter the Easter holiday. Yes, we put in the forefront the resurrection of the Christ, but the wife decided that some candy was in order, AND, a Reese's Rabbit seemed logical for this particular child. Alas, it had too much chocolate, and I, the compassionate fixer, offered to remove the offense (eating as I went, naturally). 

Now...to the poem. Watched a blurb concerning Presidential hopeful, Marco Rubio's thoughts as to gay-marriage and how the "youth" overwhelmingly support it. He sided with his faith. Good for him.

You know, I've spent not a little cyber-ink on the subject; giving my two bits as to how God didn't get it wrong. But...many, especially the young, bend their "believing" another way. 

Here's my point: I don't look to the young...for wisdom (especially if it struts across a university quad). There's a reason there are age requirements for office holders in the Constitution. And, since even I have worn the shoes of a know-it-all know-nothing, I give the "youth" vote little weight. Nothing personal, they just need a few more scars and whiskers. 

Now...back to the rabbit.

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