Corrigan

 

“Wrong Way Corrigan” refers to American aviator Douglas Corrigan, who in July 1938 filed a flight plan from New York to California but instead flew across the Atlantic and landed in Dublin, claiming he misread his compass.

Zigging when we should be zagging.

We've all done it.  We go on.

I try, though fail at times, to cease reflecting on the past.  And perhaps it's good to review to keep on course.

Now, Corrigan might have made his ride on purpose, having been denied a transatlantic flight plan.

Still, we get the picture.

With a birthday looming, I'm preparing to go ahead with plans re books and other projects.  Now is the time.

The method and maintenance are ahead.  And most important, I refuse to get in my own way ever again.

Call it let go and let God or whatever, just do not stop.

I'll post when things are officially underway.

See you on the other side.

Angel Encounters

 There are different kinds of angels and they have different purposes.  That's standard angelology.

There are the Heavenly Hosts.  And there are more down to earth angels.

I believe there are actual spiritual beings but also those of the flesh.

There are people who do heavenly things, though they might be obscure or at least small, even fleeting.

I was just reflecting on some encounters as I meditated and ruminated.

One time, I was about to move literally to another location and into another phase of my life.  I was more wondering than nervous.

I gave thought as I did my laundry at a nearby laundromat.

It was evening, twilight, and no one else was there, except for one guy.

We started talking about my circumstances and he encouraged me to go forth.  I would see and do what i would.  

He bolstered me and the odd thing was he didn't seem to be tending a load.  He just casually sat and calmly talked.

He bade me farewell and as I left I turned and he seemed to disappear.

Another time, I was on a lonely country road, hitchhiking.

The weather was getting stormy, the intensity increased.

Wind was whipping and the clouds darkened.

I prayed for a ride before it broke.

A car appeared down the road.  It was just a plain old sedan.  The driver stopped and said to get in.  He also said don't touch anything.

The storm immediately broke.  It was torrential, one couldn't see and the atmosphere was black and green.

The car rocked and lightning danced across the hood.

It was over quickly but seemed forever.

We continued down the road.

I tripped and fell on a jagged piece of sidewalk downtown.

Down I went, injuring my right knee and scrapping my leg.

I yelled in surprise and shock.

There was not a single person near. But suddenly, 

I heard a guy's voice ask if I was ok.  A hand reached down and pulled me straight up, effortlessly.

A tall thin young man stood there and had concern in his face.

I said I'd make it now and he smiled and said good.

On he went and I could see him down the street.

Another time of reflection and trial was closing in on me.  We lived in a strange place full of spiritual/psychic impulse.

A man was going door to door, saw me and said 'hey brother!'

He was dressed casually with a cap.

I said hi and continued on my way.  On the way back, he was still there, seemingly going door to door.

He encouraged me to carry on.

Saw him again when one day on the bus, I look across the street. There he was, dressed the same in a small group ready to cross.  He looked sideways so I could see who it was.

I looked round the corner then back.  He was gone.  Disappeared.   There was not enough time for him to have walked away.  He was gone.

Now, the common thread here is the feeling imbued.

Calm, reassurance, even peace.  Fortitude.  Comfort.

No fear, even in a storm.

I've had many more encounters.

I can only tell you they are real and God sent.

Ai Yi Yi

 Lotta pro and con for all this internet ai stuff.  Some is fantastic and I'm not saying that's wrong.  But I suggest one examines all the facets.

As you dig, remember that ai is a tool.  Tools are used for weal or woe.

Be choosy and tell the truth.

About Face

 Turncoats.  Switch colors.  Benedict Arnolds.

There are many reasons.

Some are moles, pretending the whole time til the time is right.

Some hope, are hangers on, thinking they might share unearned credit.

Some just don't get what's going on and see things in a warped way.  They oppose because their vision is limited.

Of course, there is always bribery, blackmail, threats.

Liars hope a lie told enough seems to be the truth.  We are supposed to join the unhappy throng.  They want to do our thinking for us.

We must think for ourselves and dig evidence.

We must look at the whole picture.

Eyes open, neck on swivel, watch six.

Say one thing, do one thing.

Weather

 Reminds me of speech exercise in acting.

Peaking of rough, enduring extreme pain internal/external and exhausting shall we say, both ends pretty much sums it up.

Working through the pain/attack bit by bit will lead to that refreshment Jesus guarantees.  Sometimes instant, often bit by bit in return, it arrives at a conclusion.  Remains to be seen if it's what one envisions.  Fast and slow to the end.  Or beginning.

And self awareness comes in surprising even occasionally amusing doses.  

It's a partnership with what and how we weather.

In passing (literally and figuratively), I'll recite that exercise.

'Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot, we'll weather whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.'

Beards

 Not that kind of beard lol.

Simply a beard grown back in the day.

It was the fashion and I didn't think about it.  Kept it trimmed and clean of course.

My bro was a good guy but uptight.

He was afraid customers would see it and reject our services.

He gave me an ultimatum.  Shave or get fired.

I went in the bathroom and mulled.  I walked out with beard.

He said a current customer would tell us something.

That something never happened.  DB didn't care long as we did our job.

Such a simple, silly thing.  

Our Great Grandmother said it's who you are not what you are.

I just grew a beard and let my hair get a little long.

It's the tude dude!

Rough Stuff

 Nobody said it was easy.

Well, they did, but the rough stuff comes first.

Paul speaks of being crucified with Christ.  It's old life over, new life begins.  He rose.  We rise with him.

Easy?  Rough but once done it's a start.

The world hated Him first.  And it hates us because we follow Him.

You figure out what the 'world' means.

We are not austere.  We are right here.  It's what we do that counts.  

A life of faith is constantly renewed.  It must be nurtured.  And we must do.

We don't twiddle our thumbs and say lah dee dah.

We get down where the rubber hits the road and with God's power in our faith, we do.  We proclaim, heal, expel and nurture.

It's rough.

But Jesus says, 'Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will refresh you'.  Not easy, but easier.

The darkside tries to despair and isolate us.

NO!

God helps miraculously and through people.

Fear not.

Reach out.  We meet you and even seek you.

Rough/easier.

Bs

 He was a housepainter.

At least when I met him, he was painting a house.

A former Lutheran pastor, brought up in the church, he left, finally tired of 'policy'.  Not all Lutherans were so inclined.  Yet, for some, a regulated structure replaced church function.  This affected how people expressed their faith.  Leftist dialog usurped parishes, leaving behavior filtered through its socio-political lens.

B revolted against this.  He chose conscience and quite actually imitated Dr Luther many centuries ago.  

He chose an independent group.  This, by no means eschewed education.  

He simply didn't 'put on airs' and preached and ministered to many.  

When I met him, he simply was painting houses.

He never abandoned faith.

The man had remarkable reach and inspired many to walk in Jesus' ways.  

He had his own business and a full family life as well as making many friends.

B was quintessential humility for he accepted his work whether painting a house or counseling the troubled.

He never basked in his vast educational achievements.  They were simply part of him and coalesced.

Certain denominations could learn a lot from this.

Decide what's important and do it.

Not me, me, me.

But Thee, thee, thee.

Cs & Ws

 I remember the 'screening' process for 'candidacy' for the ministry.  

The future bishop questioned certain folks who decided to minister.  They did so outside what he considered a legitimate organization.  He sarcastically exclaimed anyone could set up a storefront and preach.  This was w/o the benefit of socalled apostolic succession.  No laying on of hands.

I said how can you question someone if they are truthfully drawn to ministry and are preaching the Word?

He huffed and puffed and said I lacked humility.

That meant I questioned him and didn't kowtow aka kiss his keester.

My brother from another mother had done just what he questioned.  Oh he did achieve a doctorate in education eventually.  Laying hands?  God's hand was on him.

I dated a girl for a bit whose Dad became a fundamentalist pastor similarly.  That was C.

W was the bishop who preceded the pompous one.

Both were great men of God who preached and taught the Savior.

Different guys, yet the same God guided them.

Humility?  They both humbly accepted the responsibility of preaching and counseling.

The Church consists of many types all with the same goal.  Methods vary.

To the pompous Pharisees I say look to Truth. Accept or deny.

It is what was done 2,000 years ago.

All together in the Light.  

Ties

 Not the cloth round the neck nor connectedness.

Just simply tying one's shoes.

Imagine a kid who wouldn't tie shoes.

It was so bad his Mom got special clip on shoes.  So tying was avoided and not tying was indulged.

His brother got fed up with such indulgence.  He sat the kid on the couch and wouldn't let him up til he tied some shoes.

Kid tried to get up and bro shoved him back down.

The kid knew how.  He was just spoiled.

Bro knew that the kid would eventually suffer in years to come.  He knew there were things one has to do oneself.

Sweat broke out but the kid finally tied his shoes.

Bro just walked away.

That was that.

The kid can wear loafers and ties both -s-.

No clip ons.

Ties go beyond shoes.  

Knots and other attachments might follow.

And independence rises.

Stars

 We think of gold and blue stars.  We honor our military.

This is about something else spurred by a passing thought.

Remember those little sticky stars pinned by our names in the lower grades?

Good conduct and achievement.  I don't remember if I got any lol.

Guess I didn't pay attention.

Anyway, I thought about how we anticipate rewards and, yes, punishments.

Do we do right just for stars?  And are we just trying to avoid punishment?  

What's underneath?

A sincere wish/will to do good for goodness sake?  Or only to look good?

My Dad taught me content of character.  Doing what's right, even though it's often painful.

This is what was fervently taught in the New Testament.  Dare I trip a bot?  Jesus.

Let us live accordingly.

God knows our hearts.

Ruts

 I remember a saying that made the rounds when I was a student minister.  'But we've always done it this way'.  And this was supposed to lead us to fresh thinking/methods.

Well, it didn't.  It blew over.  People were safer doing it the old way.

There are patterns in life we get used to.  Some are ok for day to day routine.  Others stifle us.

We go on and get something done.  Then suddenly another way dawns on us.  

Inspiration?  Serendipity?  Nah.  There are no coincidences.

The lingering thought with a new method is 'this is so simple so why didn't we do it before?

Leads us back to the rut we fall in.

Newness pops up.  Rarely do we search and find it.

So, breath, stay calm and let circumstance refresh you.  

Don't let the winds of fate bat you around.

Ride the waves of destiny.

Envy

 When I see the success of decent honest people, I salute them.  I pray for their health and all good things.

There are always those who have a negative opposite attitude.  They are lazy.

Instead of working and earning whatever the goal, they would rather steal.  It's an abysmal substitute.  

Obviously the fallen and their ilk are rife with this.  Delusional.

Success is very subjective.  Individual, local, national, world are just the surface.  

Whatever the goals of success, it is the proliferation of the Light that counts.

Decent?  Honest?  Yes.  Truth above all.

Be grateful.  Strive for success and Freedom.

Our destiny awaits.

24....

 Another fave series.  Spoken of before.

Hard justice and very grey areas.  Watch it yourself and see.

There is truth in the fiction.  I'll let you find it.

When it was running, 24 seemed to appeal to both libs and conservatives.

Is there a tendency to fight?  Yes but that's where the comparison ends.

Are you fighting to preserve Freedom or tyranny?  Justice or injustice?

You see what you want to perhaps.  Or you have a clear grasp of what you fight for.

War is hell.  It's messy.  Yet, we try not to be like the enemy.

That is both simple and rough.  

We fight an enemy who wants to control.  We seek Liberty.  We value people to be themselves and we get together to affirm this.

We can be brutal but we help heal.

Vigilance never goes away.

So it's beyond 24.

Right There

 Thriller is one of my favorite paranormal/horror shows.

I watched one the other day called Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper.  Very imaginative re Jack, who he was and why he did what he did.

It's a modern day story.  A scholar has researched and made a diagram of Jack and similar crimes for a century.  He claims Jack is still alive and does the crimes as blood sacrifice to live.

The cops are reluctantly convinced and try to trap Jack.  He eludes them.

This continues til Jack murders the scholar to cover his tracks.

Turns out, he was right there all the time as the police therapist!

It's a twisted version of friends close and enemies closer.

If they hadn't been blinded by Jack's role, there were clues as to who he was; certain predilections/behaviors.

That got me to thinking how our enemies do indeed hide amongst us.  It's not that there are 'commies under every bed'.  It's the mere tactic to be moles, which btw is a common intel tactic.

Don't be paranoid.  Simply be guarded re info.  That includes personal and plans.  Don't feed the bad guys.  

It's not a matter of loyalty oaths.  It is concern that friends are friends

What we can do is resolve to be right there ie, to work to restore the Republic.

Truth will out!

7

 Not the Magnificent Seven, though the original is great.

It's about greed and injustice.  

Over the years, imagine being cheated out of several inheritances.

Naivety and youth had something to do with it at first.  Then reticence and helplessness set in.  

He kidded himself that he had taken the high road, that his morals were better than the thieves.  That's all well and good, but it does nothing inre justice.  They don't care, like our enemies scorn us because they think they can get away with their theft.

The thieves/grifters are cowardly and weak.  They prey only when others don't fight back.

All 7 should have been contested.  Gone now.

However the diamonds can be returned still.  Not literally perhaps, but by a different avenue.

Prayer, planning and standing up for oneself can overcome.

Perseverance and determination without revealing plans can work.  

There is some Sun Tzu involved.

That's the limit of revelation.

Spirit and truth as long as they are action and not just words, will whittle/whack the perps down to size.

Guard well and watch 6 for 7.

Success on one's own terms is the best revenge.

Justice.

Groups

 All groups have Bertha Better'n'yous.  They share a delusion that they are exclusive.

Truth simply speaks for itself.  There is no forcing an issue.

What we must remember is we are all in this together.

Like the story says about all are equal but some are more equal than others.

No.  We are free and we choose.  

A group is made of individuals who aim in a common direction.

Lockstep is poison.  Common belief is health.

Insecurity hides behind something which becomes vague.

Belief and knowledge coalesce.

E Pluribus Unum.  

Characters...

 Father's Day looms.  

We are sorry/mourn that there are bad dads.

But here, we celebrate Fathers.  Great ones.  Positive role models.  I know 2.

My Dad and my Brother From Another Mother have great content of character.

They worked hard, raised responsible kids, helped others and inspired those who carry on.  

They could be earthy and eloquent.  They had the ability to communicate with practically anyone.

One was well off and the other working class.  

Leaders in the best sense who learned from others and cared for them.  They gathered advice and experience, then made decisive decisions.  

In all times including down, I remember them and I will not let them down.

I will carry on.

The People...

 There are levels in life.

People manage, supervise, have duties that demand attention.  

Yet, it still boils down to content of character.

My GreatGrandma always said 'it's who you are, not what you are'.  It's a truism shared by many.  But it's profound for each.

People respond in many ways to others.

In certain groups, I was a supervisor, pastor, therapist etal.  

I was not above them.  I was with them.

One of the best pastors I knew was like that.  He related and though he led them, he was one of them.

The worst kind is the authoritarian.  Above and not below.

It might be a desire to be a leader with answers or at least ability to counsel.

Or it's preening superiorism.  Up there not down here.

Among the people, I had great positive response.  People trusted me and wanted me to help.

They sought to lift me up.

I sought to be on their sides.

I helped by inspiring people to help themselves, to inspire potential.

No wonder the neopharissees wanted me gone.

The org should serve the people, not the people the org.

Regrets...

 I have zigged when I should have zagged.

I do not obsess about mistakes I've made.  I remember when I went a certain path.

The point is I have learned.

If I had followed through with certain actions, who knows about profession and whatever success might have been.

I live with the results, good, bad and in between, like we all do.  

I don't wallow in despair, nor failure.

I am here now.

I have a life to live with the gifts given me by our Creator.

I don't live in the past.  I learn from it.  

Lift up your hearts and give life its due.  

I know some feel at their wits end.  End of rope?  Tie a knot and hang on!

We are here to help, encourage, heal.  Ourselves and others.

Follow your dreams and don't be your worst enemy.

Plan A, B, C, etc.

Points Redux

 Doubt I'll make a habit of this.  I reiterate but prefer to go on.  Probably no 'best of'.

But, here is something spurred on by a previous thought re confessions.

Points

 Of contact.

I remember a certain fundamentalist group doing a group healing with oil.  They used a tissue as a point of contact for the recipient far away.  Don't know if it worked but the prayers didn't hurt.

We use focal points in order to concentrate energy, to give emphasis or momentum to address.

This is where words and deeds converge, where ideas turn into determination.  

How do we touch people, a subject, a project?

Declarations precede action and the action starts at a point then spreads.

Do prayers work?  We only know if we pray.

We have to start somewhere.

Fate

 The end?  Beginning?

Destiny.  Our future.

They -sic- say 'luck is preparation meeting opportunity'.  

I'm just throwing out thoughts here.  Kind of a pastiche or a palette for a portrait.  

We are never alone, but many of those corporeal folks on the journey have gone to spirit.  Their fate transforms, while those of us here have further work to do.  It unfolds as needed.

Sure, some have a clearer view.  But, nonetheless, we are here til we are not.

Then we can come and go.

Some say there is no fate but what we make.  I refer to the aforementioned luck statement. 

I think it's probably that and something smack dab in the path/face.  

There are no coincidences.  All our yesterdays coalesce.

Keep thinking and doing. 

Cata And Bags

 In my capacity as a student minister, I was in some unique situations.

Then again, I've had some singular opportunities most of my life.

I was in a position to listen to confessions.  Not like our friends in RCC etc, but nonetheless I counseled and above all listened.  

This included several pastors and church workers.

I was trustworthy and some of them needed to go 'outside' official function.  Not sure what that says about the organization.  At any rate, I listened and counseled including up into my clinical psych education.

Of course, I'm not revealing anything.  I will take what I heard when I cross over.

I don't dwell on all that.  It just crosses my mind now and then.  And it gives me a chance to reflect on that period.

I listened and we prayed for healing and well being.  It was rather like a point of contact and we knew God ultimately listened.  But as we are in this world together, it is well for us to share.  

It was initially startling that established folks poured out their souls to me.  Then I realized it was simply part of my calling/service.

Lending an ear, no excuses and a chance to think were shared.

I hope all are well who are still here.  Several have gone to spirit.

I never let a cat out of a bag.  Confession, even this type, is/was sacrosanct. 

We worked through several issues and there were of course referrals.

We are all in this together.  All our yesterdays coalesce.  

Sometimes working/thinking outside the box has its value

I thank God I was there for them.   

Oldsters

 I've covered this several times before.

Life is always valuable.  It merely shifts.

My Grandpa, my Mom's Dad, lived with us.  He was a good guy and had done his share.  

We helped the elderly at the church I served as a student.  Many wonderful memories of folks and their stories.  That was the main thing.  Listening.  Taking/spending time.

We help when needed but we celebrate independence.  Always there is care and dignity.  You never know when and who.

We must respect far beyond age.  We must hold close the person.

No matter how long nor what comes, we all need content of character.

Remember the past.  Don't live in it.

You might be surprised by the present.

Future?  

Pass it on.

Mister P

 When teachers were teachers.

Male teachers were rare in my student days, except for gym teachers.

Mister P was jr high social studies.  Then he was promoted to principal.  This was not the end of his teaching.

He often filled in for teachers who had emergency days off.  It was always a treat for us to have him inspire us.

Mister P was the kind of teacher who indeed inspired students to learn, to inquire and thing for themselves.

One could say he was suave.  Well dressed and groomed, he had a modulated voice and one could sense his love for education.  He created curiosity and kids reached out on their own past school time to learn for the sake of learning.

A consummate storyteller, I think my favorite recitation was Ozymandias.

I still hear his dramatic voice sculpting a tale of disintegrated vanity.

It still teaches me of fleeting fame and power.  and the Biblical admonition of what happens when one gains the world and loses one's soul.

He left our school and resumed teaching jr high social studies.

One other memory was his resolute strength the day JFK was murdered.

Shared strength.

I pray and encourage others to be like him and many teachers of yesteryear.

How about you? 

Darkest

 before the Dawn.

This Easter vigil I learned my best friend from high school has crossed over.

Not much of a surprise, for he had lung cancer.

Where is our faith?  Why wasn't he healed?

Well, his spirit was.  Not baloney.  Sometimes the body gives out.  The flesh was weak.

But he left that temp house and is now in spirit.

Believe or not.  Up to you.

We had ups and downs, but his family helped me while my Dad crossed over.

Those are gifts, memories that renew us while here.

Now he will be busy with whatever the Father has in mind for him

The Path is clear and is celebrated so tomorrow.  

All our yesterdays coalesce and we pause til we go on.

Sail on!

Crowds...

 Crowds can be fickle.  But don't paint with a broad brush.

First welcomed as king.  Then just days later, reviled and beaten.  Quite a topsy turvy climate.

Jerusalem and its suburbs had a population akin to a small city.  So, JMHO there were some who welcomed and some who reviled.  And a large section who went about their business.

What happened does show how crowds can be swayed.  And of course, now they tend to be either radical leftist violance or actual peaceful demonstrations.

Personally, I avoid crowds just because it can be like an undertow.  There is more to be done individually or in small groups that spreads a message.  

Quiet word of mouth usually goes better, though rallies and meetings can have positive impact.

Strange day as the crowd dispersed and many shuttered their homes.

After the earthquake and storm, things got quiet.  Deathly quiet and behind the scenes, in spirit other things were very active.

The best was yet to come.

Berthas And Misters

 Bertha Better 'an Yous and Mister Know It Alls. Amazing some actually follow them.

Say a leader, church or state, who 'guides' people 'for their own good'.  They are benevolent until one questions.  Then the full force of their false authority descends.  

KIAs might be 'escapees from cults or darkside religions such as S or L who again guide the people.  They are gatekeepers who actually proclaim a 'my way or highway' doctrine.  All else is questionable, even denominations or just deviation/questioning the KIAs.

Of course, there are those in orgs who do this.  They hide in establishment just as some hide in breaking away.  

Stand for truth.  Don't be bullied.

We celebrate Someone this week who perfectly defied darkness and proclaimed Freedom.

Don't let anyone hijack that.

We are warned it will be bumpy.  It'll keep us awake lol.

Light from Light.

Minus

 So much negativity.  The goal is to get everybody at each other.  It is to depress. It's the old thousand cut tactic, which btw can be used for weal or woe.

We are barraged by negative messages.  There are abundant examples such as social media, where a title/headline states a supposed truism.  It may or may not be.  But it implants that thought in mind.  I find countering a good idea.  It's a soft form of hypnosis/mesmerism.   

The object is to tear down foundation.  It casts aspersions planting doubt and of course, to pit people against one another.

Be a rock.  Do not shift.  Be resolute.

Detractions and distractions are many.  Concentrate on truth.  Discern.  

Learn to examine.  

Mind you, history is rife with reality -s-.  One of my teachers said that the older one gets, the less black and white things are.  Greyer lol.  

But, there is good and evil.  There is your discernment.  

Add.

The Key

 There is a dream that sticks with you

It is old but never goes away.

A key, happens to look old and weathered, is given.

It unlocks a large wooden door.

Inside, there is a seemingly endless row of other doors.  

No search.  One key opens them all.

Which one to unlock first?

Get busy.

Spell Out

 Minor editing is ok.  But no significant rewrites.

That is the way for my books.

There can be a tendency to over explain what's happening in a story.

Leave some things to the audience's imagination.

Pat McGoohan did that with The Prisoner.  And many hated it.

Some want to be spoon fed answers.

I refuse to aid and abet laziness.  Life is not always clean and clear.  We may want explanation, but we might search for answers.  

If you don't like it, then write your own stuff.

When it comes to current events, people need to be shown so they understand the situation.  That's in the world.  And we share solutions.  

Fictional narrative is best served when readers/viewers can devise resolution, or add to the character of the story.  Or to just leave it just as it is.

I have back stories for some of my characters.  It helps me focus on the narrative.  But, I would rather have a sense of wonder or at least mystery concerning them.

I can't even compare to Pat's work, however I believe in discussion, hows whens wheres whys, to further interest.

As a showbiz friend says, 'there is a message in the ravioli'.  We can get points across in fiction we might not otherwise.

At any rate, soon anyone who wants will be able to judge for him/herself re my work.

I predict it will be interesting.  

Tails And Nets

 It's an Old story.

It needn't be singsong nor dreary.

Associations can vary, employee/employer can be clearcut or more blending.  Co-owners/creators may give and take.  But slight encounters are not first name nor buddy buddy.

Sometimes it's hard to put a finger on an event.  When you deal with people, it becomes clearer.

You don't have to be in showbiz to see what I'm getting at.  This applies to all of life.

When you are seeking answers/ideas, you honestly seek advice, not necessarily friendship.  Once in a while that or at least a closer association might develop.

Some people make it seem they are approachable and can be friendly.  They give you attention and make you feel comfortable.  You generally don't go home with them.

Honest advice and even aid is usually gradual.  Show respect.  Nothing is more irritating than someone being palsy walsy.  

I'm fortunate in my encounters and even have friendship to a degree with some.  

But, like dating, you don't want a whirlwind relationship.

Reminds me when my books are read, there is a seeming contradiction to this. It is for the purpose of narrative.  In real life, there are ups and downs and the long haul means adjustment.  Circumstances might carry you along, but be the master of fate.  Don't let romance rule you.  Let it inspire.

Stop letting the winds of fate bat you around.

Learn to ride the waves of destiny.

That's not vague when lived.  

Conversely, be a trifle wary.  Watch out for coattails.  Welcome network.  

Personally, I don't osculate rumpus.  Same as the difference between tail and net.

As the vendors say liver and loin.

Diamonds

 Are forever?  A girl's best friend?  

Justice.

When a thief is caught, he must be punished.  Moreso, he must return aka make recompense.

I believe it is happening for the nation, eventually the world.

And it is occurring personally.

Just as plans are detailed, their execution might be simple.  Doesn't mean it is effortless.  On the contrary, there is much put into exacting justice.

As with greater things, the plans afoot might not be completely revealed. at least not all at once.  We keep close to the vest.  Let's surprise the darkness.

Diamonds have been stolen.

They will be made to be returned.

How?  What?

Close to the vest.

But remember, there will be justice.

Success will be revealed.

Hard and full of Light, look for diamonds.

Sermons

 I preached many a sermon as a 'pulpit supply' student minister.

It's merely a message within worship, usually biblical or at least associated.

Sermon has also had a negative connotation for a long time.  Some kind of holier than thou judgement; a condescending critique that brow beats.

Churchwise, I always aimed to preach re Jesus.  I tried to be conversational, not stale.

My first was over 20 minutes long.  What did I know as people looked at their watches lol.

All inspired by HS.  I merely chatted for a few.  I tried to imitate J.

When I was blacklisted, all it did was free me.

I've done all the things I did before, but on a broader scale.

My endeavors here have been honed down to 4 a month.

I realized these are my sermons, for weal or woe.

I tell tales of free thinking, restoring the Republic in, I hope, a thought provoking even entertaining way.

Gifts freely given.  

More to come til there is no more and I go elsewhere.  Beyond.

Soft Control

 Like most things, whispers serve a dual purpose, for weal or woe.

Subtle power instead of earth shattering events.

Secret agents might be a little melodramatic.  

Yet, power wielded quietly might go farther  and not gathering notice might either undermine or strengthen something.

The darkside might be quiet and seem weak to escape retaliation and to acquiesce.

Gentle surrender is the goal and just roll over is the whisper.

Now, one can respond in kind.

Whisper Freedom and Light.  Gentle dawn.

Or shout.

Weal or woe.

Your move.

Stranger

 I love small towns.

There was a time Zionsville was so, before the huge yuppie/lib influx.

I spent a lot of time there with my GreatGrandmother.  It was a second town to me.  

So, noone really stared at me.

Yes, in some places people actually stare at new folks in town.

And even after some time there, townspeople still stare.  Always new!  Stranger!

The motive may vary like a pendulum, for weal or woe.

Just an observation.

I lived in a small town 2 years.  A local pastor said in answer to my observing townsfolk plainly staring at me that, even after years there, he was still stared at plus was the new guy in town still.

Now this was a town/area beset with devil worshipping drug dealers.  I kid you not.

Leave it to me to be in a 'weird is normal' situation.

More on that another time.

Actually, small town folk can be insular.  Not bad long as they are based in good will.

Maybe all of us should be a bit wary of things.

I'm a proponent of keeping your head on a swivel and observing.  Wait and see, unless something is obvious.

We both survived our stays.

One or two odd things.  Left town to visit a nearby town.  Noone knew.  Next morning someone called me where I was and asked why I left.  Hmmm.

When I moved back to Indy, I was asked why I wanted to leave.

I just said it was time, that I enjoyed my stay but I had to go.

Mind you I didn't owe anyone an explanation.  I just indulged lol.

I think these places each have sort of a personality.  

Then again my fave bar ahd a plaque that said 'You are a stranger here but once'.

Go figure.

Stronger

 Body, Mind, Psyche, Spirit.

It's how I explain spiritual makeup.

Body is the physical house we rent for a life.

Mind is the person we are in that body.

Psyche is the X factor, God's presence.

Spirit is our immortal selves.

Just a pallette for a portrait.

Every now and then, I think of the TV series Millennium.

It's a remarkable work touching on the spiritual and all the above points.

Some is procedural while some more is definitely spiritual.

Frank Black is a profiler with abilities to read a situation even get in the head of perps and solves horrible crimes.

There are allies on all levels as well as enemies.

I'll have to do an in depth analysis one of these days.

One of the chief villains is Lucy Butler, a shape changing sorceress.  She is older than she looks and it's a result of having sold her soul.  Her gifts were perverted and she now serves the darkness.

Frank tangled with her several times and with her conspirators.

The last on the series was in the form of a boy who destroyed those around him and attempted to do so to Frank's daughter.

As flames consumed him and a family/father destroyed, he yelled 'Who's stronger Frank, me or you?'  

It's that hellish challenge like Paradise Lost between the Creator/Father and the fallen.

Frank is quiet.  Not beaten in any way as Lucy plays cat and mouse.  His faith is there unspoken.

I recommend Millennium and wish there was a better resolution.  It is what it is.

Me, I'd answer 'Not me or you.  Jesus.'

Notice

 Nota Bene -s-.

I've mentioned it before.  Ever go by a place time and again, then one day notice something that you never saw clearly before?

For years I drove past old buildings in my area.  One day, I was stopped and looked up.  There was the ornate cornice to the building, a brick structure.  It housed small businesses, including an elderly tailor who was an artist for detail.

This notice added such depth and scope to something already worthwhile.

There are other instances such as a certain statue, a particular house or even colors that vary.  A picture can get painted in as a result.

Akin to this is indeed color.  Say you see a red car.  Almost suddenly, there is a profusion of red cars.  Or  certain car brands and makes that then become noticeable.

It's not magic.  It is merely awareness.

When your neck's on a swivel, you have the ability to notice a larger world.

I see said the blind man -s-.

The mind's eye is put on notice.

Tags

 Price.

Reminds me of a discount shop, where tags hang from everything.  But everywhere we go, you see the price for so much.

A game of tag?  What if the price has been paid?

The darkside imitates some things.  But it is limited to already created stuff.  And there is a price.

The Light offers things for free.  It comes to us.  We don't strive because of that Freedom.

Now, there is often a rocky/bumpy road, but the result is the same.

Don't btw let anyone prey on superstitions.

Rather, let faith shine a light on deeds.

Salvation is priceless for the price was paid.

No tags.

More Fun

 Continued shenanigans as described in No Ties.

The screening process for pastoral 'candidates' is supposed to be rigorous and fair, in order to filter out  people not suitable, supposedly for them to find other ways.  Hmm.  A calling becomes what the current powers say is so.  

I was favored while the then bishop was in office.  When he retired, that changed.

The man who succeeded him was one of the screeners.

He said I lacked humility, when asked to tell about myself and achievements, which included my own business and church work.

My take on that evaluation is simple.  He was projecting.  

I was always and am still giving God the glory.  Soli Deo Gloria.  That's humility.

Eventually, as said before, my ability to preach was taken away.  I preached the Risen Savior and His message for all.

Modern Pharisees had taken over.

As a result, it actually freed me to promote what I preached, for Freedom and Light.

We have our work cut out for us.  But we are never alone.  The angels and spirits of Light work with us.

No Ties...

 What makes us tick?

What sets us off?

Timing, events, perhaps following a misinterpretation.

I was interviewed as a 'candidate for ministry' for part of the qualification process to be a pastor.  RME.  They were thorough -s-.

Asked about my work, I told this gang of inquisitors I had my own business.  Now, mind you, I was respectful and supplied info as asked.  The above comment is a current evaluation of their antics.

I also said I could dress as I pleased.  My Dad had done so as well after years as a salesman, well dressed I might add -s-, usually in a golf shirt and slacks.  I dressed likewise.

I made the offhand comment that I was glad I didn't have to wear a tie anymore.

One of the committee exploded, ranting how HE wore a tie every day.  This tirade was complete with spittle.  Curious pick to determine pastoral suitability.

I deferred with choice.

Some people cling to their peccadillos.  Some just refuse to understand why others aren't like them.

Take your pick.  Enjoy differences.  To each is own.