Sunday, December 21, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
A Christmas Poem
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT.
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE -
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND.
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT.
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY.
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE.
I DROPPED T O MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HE ARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE.
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT;
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
This poem was written by a Marine.
The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.and Canadian service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our
heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT.
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE -
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND.
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT.
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY.
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE.
I DROPPED T O MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HE ARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE.
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT;
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
This poem was written by a Marine.
The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.and Canadian service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our
heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Merry, Merry CHRISTMAS...
This time of year brings allot of fond memories for allot of us, and unfortunately not so fond memories for others. Some of my fondest memories for the Christmas season include memories with my large family… mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins and more cousins. My mom, dad and I would do a big dinner on Christmas eve and usually attend our churches Christmas eve service and then drive through certain areas of the city (San Francisco) to admire all the beautifully decorated houses. Once we got home it was time for all the yummy desserts and time to open presents! Then on Christmas morning, I would rush out to the living room to see what “Santa” left me and then opened our stockings. Sometime after breakfast, we would head over to my aunts house and have a day full of fun family games, more food and all us cousins would sit around the fire and open more gifts.
It’s fascinating to me to hear all the different traditions that families have around the Christmas time. One that my mom and I had for a long time was shopping the weekend of Thanksgiving. We always took a long bus ride to the heart of downtown San Francisco and would shop all day until it got dark and then head back home, on the bus with all of our shopping bags. As I grew into an adult, work took presidents over shopping that weekend. Usually by Thanksgiving I had and have all my shopping done. Working in the malls six days a week through December, the last thing I wanted to do on my day off was go back into the mall to deal with the same people that I dealt with all week long.
I love baking! One of my favorite things to do during Christmas time is bake while listening to my favorite Christmas songs and in between watching all the favorite Christmas movies that are on t.v.! I also enjoy making soap to give as gifts to all my friends.
As I have gotten older, especially in the past few years Christmas seems to have changed… or maybe it’s me that has changed. People don’t say “Merry Christmas” to you any more, in fear that they might offend you. Instead they take Christ out of it and tell you happy holidays. You don’t see as much giving from the heart as in helping people in need, it’s more about rushing off to this party and then that party and all about materialistic gifts. It seems few people stop and slow down to truly reflect on what the Christmas season is really all about. Pastor Jason made a comment this Sunday about how the whole world is forced to think about Christ at this time of year. Regardless of their religion and beliefs they are forced to recognize the birth of Christ this one time, every year! I never looked at it that way, but it is very true.
What are some of your favorite memories or traditions? Are you in the rare majority that tells everyone Merry Christmas? Have you slowed down to reflect the real meaning of Christmas and what that means for you? I hope you take time this busy season and remember to breathe and what this holiday truly represents.
Merry, Merry Christmas to you all…
It’s fascinating to me to hear all the different traditions that families have around the Christmas time. One that my mom and I had for a long time was shopping the weekend of Thanksgiving. We always took a long bus ride to the heart of downtown San Francisco and would shop all day until it got dark and then head back home, on the bus with all of our shopping bags. As I grew into an adult, work took presidents over shopping that weekend. Usually by Thanksgiving I had and have all my shopping done. Working in the malls six days a week through December, the last thing I wanted to do on my day off was go back into the mall to deal with the same people that I dealt with all week long.
I love baking! One of my favorite things to do during Christmas time is bake while listening to my favorite Christmas songs and in between watching all the favorite Christmas movies that are on t.v.! I also enjoy making soap to give as gifts to all my friends.
As I have gotten older, especially in the past few years Christmas seems to have changed… or maybe it’s me that has changed. People don’t say “Merry Christmas” to you any more, in fear that they might offend you. Instead they take Christ out of it and tell you happy holidays. You don’t see as much giving from the heart as in helping people in need, it’s more about rushing off to this party and then that party and all about materialistic gifts. It seems few people stop and slow down to truly reflect on what the Christmas season is really all about. Pastor Jason made a comment this Sunday about how the whole world is forced to think about Christ at this time of year. Regardless of their religion and beliefs they are forced to recognize the birth of Christ this one time, every year! I never looked at it that way, but it is very true.
What are some of your favorite memories or traditions? Are you in the rare majority that tells everyone Merry Christmas? Have you slowed down to reflect the real meaning of Christmas and what that means for you? I hope you take time this busy season and remember to breathe and what this holiday truly represents.
Merry, Merry Christmas to you all…
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Disappointed through shattered trust
Trust is both important and a dangerous risk. It is important because it allows us to form relationships with others and to depend on others for support, for confidence, for advice, for help, for love and for hope. But since trust involves risk, it can also be dangerous in the sense of disappointment and hurt to all different degrees. What we risk while trusting is the loss of the things that we entrust to others like, our hearts, and our self-respect, to name just a couple, which can be shattered by the betrayal of our trust.
The Webster’s Concise Dictionary states trust as: a reliance on the integrity, veracity, or reliability of a person or thing. Something committed to one’s care for use or safe keeping. Confident expectation; hope. To commit to the care of another; entrust. To except hope, to believe. To depend upon; confide in.
Trust, to me, means that you place confidence in someone, to be honest with you, faithful to you, keep promises and confidences, to support your goals and dreams and not abandon you.
As we all know (this includes me) people are human, complex, frail, broken and sinful beings. Therefore, previous hurts, fears or losses can impede their determination to trust in a relationship. I have heard it said that you need a “realistic” type of trust when you choose to trust someone; but what is a realistic type of trust? When I am asked to open my heart and trust others and I take that leap of faith, is it not realistic to except not to have the rug pulled out from under me?
Trust begins to build between people when there is a sense of honesty, respect and encouragement towards someone and in return there is a sense of acceptance and a reassurance to become vulnerable which builds self-esteem and alleviates fears of rejection.
For me personally, encouragement is the biggest part of the key for trust. I know that we all have gifts in different areas, but one of mine is to be in tuned with peoples feelings when they need simple support and encouragement to keep moving forward or a job well done. I am not perfect in this department and don’t always hit the mark when I should, but I do pretty good if I say so myself. But it is difficult for me not to loose trust when there is no support or encouragement for me, especially when it is needed the most and should have come from a very important circle of people in my life.
So what do I do when I want to trust, but every time I open my heart and take a step out to trust, it always ends up deceiving me? It makes me feel like I am not worth much and I feel foolish for trusting in the first place when I knew I would get hurt.
What does one do; you can’t live without trust but for me trust is a dangerous risk that usually spins me into a night-mare web of confusion. My strings that are attached to trust are wearing very thin and there aren’t many left. Over the weekend one more string was ripped from my core, leaving me disappointed and in despair, once again.
The Webster’s Concise Dictionary states trust as: a reliance on the integrity, veracity, or reliability of a person or thing. Something committed to one’s care for use or safe keeping. Confident expectation; hope. To commit to the care of another; entrust. To except hope, to believe. To depend upon; confide in.
Trust, to me, means that you place confidence in someone, to be honest with you, faithful to you, keep promises and confidences, to support your goals and dreams and not abandon you.
As we all know (this includes me) people are human, complex, frail, broken and sinful beings. Therefore, previous hurts, fears or losses can impede their determination to trust in a relationship. I have heard it said that you need a “realistic” type of trust when you choose to trust someone; but what is a realistic type of trust? When I am asked to open my heart and trust others and I take that leap of faith, is it not realistic to except not to have the rug pulled out from under me?
Trust begins to build between people when there is a sense of honesty, respect and encouragement towards someone and in return there is a sense of acceptance and a reassurance to become vulnerable which builds self-esteem and alleviates fears of rejection.
For me personally, encouragement is the biggest part of the key for trust. I know that we all have gifts in different areas, but one of mine is to be in tuned with peoples feelings when they need simple support and encouragement to keep moving forward or a job well done. I am not perfect in this department and don’t always hit the mark when I should, but I do pretty good if I say so myself. But it is difficult for me not to loose trust when there is no support or encouragement for me, especially when it is needed the most and should have come from a very important circle of people in my life.
So what do I do when I want to trust, but every time I open my heart and take a step out to trust, it always ends up deceiving me? It makes me feel like I am not worth much and I feel foolish for trusting in the first place when I knew I would get hurt.
What does one do; you can’t live without trust but for me trust is a dangerous risk that usually spins me into a night-mare web of confusion. My strings that are attached to trust are wearing very thin and there aren’t many left. Over the weekend one more string was ripped from my core, leaving me disappointed and in despair, once again.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Silent Screams
Silent screams fill the frigid night air
Their level of pitch is piercing, so beware
Take yourself out of your square
You will become defended, I swear
Wide open spaces with pure air to breathe
Deep in the valley of doubt
I’m trying hard to shout it out
In the silhouettes of life
With motions of strife
Alone in a crowd
Drowning in the thundering silence
Wrapped in a shrouded cloud
Lost in this flock
But no one seems to be shocked
I reach for empty dreams
Only to find hidden schemes
Illusions of my hearts desires
To be filled with liars
Majestically walking through this reservation
Feeling the vibration of the temptation
While all along just wanting formation
Screeching screams in the distance as the sunrises
And the clock on the wall goes clockwise
I can’t believe I’ve been deceived by their disguises
Living in denial of these silent screams
Wanting to be in the mainstream
Yearning for acceptance and validation
I won’t settle for imitation
The realization of my desperation
Continues to fill the air with my silent screams
They are more than night-mare daydreams
Reality settles in my peculiar world
Tangled and swirled in all its worthlessness
Hoping it doesn’t turn to bitterness
Surrounded by the loudest silence I have ever heard
Plastered on a billboard for all the world to see
But there is no one to hear my plea
Is there such a thing as being free
Open your eyes and see
Open your ears and hear
The silence screams will become clear
And then you’ll know they are sincere
Their level of pitch is piercing, so beware
Take yourself out of your square
You will become defended, I swear
Wide open spaces with pure air to breathe
Deep in the valley of doubt
I’m trying hard to shout it out
In the silhouettes of life
With motions of strife
Alone in a crowd
Drowning in the thundering silence
Wrapped in a shrouded cloud
Lost in this flock
But no one seems to be shocked
I reach for empty dreams
Only to find hidden schemes
Illusions of my hearts desires
To be filled with liars
Majestically walking through this reservation
Feeling the vibration of the temptation
While all along just wanting formation
Screeching screams in the distance as the sunrises
And the clock on the wall goes clockwise
I can’t believe I’ve been deceived by their disguises
Living in denial of these silent screams
Wanting to be in the mainstream
Yearning for acceptance and validation
I won’t settle for imitation
The realization of my desperation
Continues to fill the air with my silent screams
They are more than night-mare daydreams
Reality settles in my peculiar world
Tangled and swirled in all its worthlessness
Hoping it doesn’t turn to bitterness
Surrounded by the loudest silence I have ever heard
Plastered on a billboard for all the world to see
But there is no one to hear my plea
Is there such a thing as being free
Open your eyes and see
Open your ears and hear
The silence screams will become clear
And then you’ll know they are sincere
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
People, Wake UP!!!
What makes people do the things they do; especially “so called” Christians?
This month has turned out to be busier than I had anticipated. All of life’s everyday things that we deal with; the day to day chores, laugh’s and struggles all piling up to create the next step of the journey. Sometimes the simplest of things can become so overwhelming, but not necessarily in a bad way!
As I have traveled through this month (the last few months), I have encountered some things that I have witnessed and/or heard that have made me ask: what makes people do the things they do? I am speaking mostly about Christians. Let me make it clear that I am NOT saying that Christians, or anyone else have to be perfect… after all there is no such thing! But aren’t Christians suppose to set a different type of example for people to follow? I won’t get to technical here, but if I am learning this correctly, we are suppose to act in kindness and love, speak in “truth” with a gentle spirit and not stir up strife. We are to love the unlovable, and try to reach the unreachable and not push them out of the way or treat them like they don’t matter or wash our hands of them when we are fed up because they aren't growing fast enough. We are also not suppose to allow our minds and tongues to linger in vulgar filth. Again, I know that we are all very human with limitations but some Christians don’t even try to live up to this, which is what is expected of us, as Christians. Some of these Christians are very quick to toss you out if you don’t fit in their click and/or judge very harshly. And some don’t think twice as to the filth that filters into their minds through books, movies and the internet and that is what usually seeps out from their tongues. It’s heart breaking!
I know in the past few months, as to what all I have encountered through “so called” Christians, is not the kind of Christian I want to be! I am far from perfect and am just learning these lessons, but my prayer is that I can become the type of Christian that truly represents who Christ is and to the best of my ability set the example the way it was always intended to be. I know, I know… God has his work cut out for Him where I am concerned, but NOTHING is impossible for Him!
As God continues to open my eyes and my heart as to the things that need to be changed in me to become this example, I will continue to pray for these “so called” Christians that God will open their eyes as to their faults and where they need to change in order to stop damaging others and the reputation of who Christ is.
What makes you do the things you do?
This month has turned out to be busier than I had anticipated. All of life’s everyday things that we deal with; the day to day chores, laugh’s and struggles all piling up to create the next step of the journey. Sometimes the simplest of things can become so overwhelming, but not necessarily in a bad way!
As I have traveled through this month (the last few months), I have encountered some things that I have witnessed and/or heard that have made me ask: what makes people do the things they do? I am speaking mostly about Christians. Let me make it clear that I am NOT saying that Christians, or anyone else have to be perfect… after all there is no such thing! But aren’t Christians suppose to set a different type of example for people to follow? I won’t get to technical here, but if I am learning this correctly, we are suppose to act in kindness and love, speak in “truth” with a gentle spirit and not stir up strife. We are to love the unlovable, and try to reach the unreachable and not push them out of the way or treat them like they don’t matter or wash our hands of them when we are fed up because they aren't growing fast enough. We are also not suppose to allow our minds and tongues to linger in vulgar filth. Again, I know that we are all very human with limitations but some Christians don’t even try to live up to this, which is what is expected of us, as Christians. Some of these Christians are very quick to toss you out if you don’t fit in their click and/or judge very harshly. And some don’t think twice as to the filth that filters into their minds through books, movies and the internet and that is what usually seeps out from their tongues. It’s heart breaking!
I know in the past few months, as to what all I have encountered through “so called” Christians, is not the kind of Christian I want to be! I am far from perfect and am just learning these lessons, but my prayer is that I can become the type of Christian that truly represents who Christ is and to the best of my ability set the example the way it was always intended to be. I know, I know… God has his work cut out for Him where I am concerned, but NOTHING is impossible for Him!
As God continues to open my eyes and my heart as to the things that need to be changed in me to become this example, I will continue to pray for these “so called” Christians that God will open their eyes as to their faults and where they need to change in order to stop damaging others and the reputation of who Christ is.
What makes you do the things you do?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Ticking Time-Bomb
Sorry for the time laps on posting anything new. These past couple of weeks have been unusually busy and haven’t left much time for anything extra.
As you obviously know I have taken on the task of putting together a series of posts on witchcraft. This has taken more time than expected to put all the information together in a way that you can understand it and get something out of it. As I have been working on these posts and doing a bit of research I have come across some interesting facts that I was not aware of myself. This is such a deep complex topic; one that is still very tangled in my own mind and belief system. It has created some confusion in my own thought process and I know it requires time in prayer for I am also aware that it will stir up spiritual warfare.
Because we are approaching the big holiday season, I need to stay focused on other things right now. As some of you may know I own my own business and this time of year is a make or break deal with the financial end of the business. I don’t have the time or energy to get deep into this topic and to fight a spiritual war; please forgive me. I do promise during this Christmas season to work on the series and will come back to it in January. It is an important topic that needs light shed on it and I do plan on doing just that.
In the mean time I will continue to post on other things as I make my way through to the end of this year. There are certain things that are going on that I can’t wait to share with all of you. Thank you for your patients and understanding.
As you obviously know I have taken on the task of putting together a series of posts on witchcraft. This has taken more time than expected to put all the information together in a way that you can understand it and get something out of it. As I have been working on these posts and doing a bit of research I have come across some interesting facts that I was not aware of myself. This is such a deep complex topic; one that is still very tangled in my own mind and belief system. It has created some confusion in my own thought process and I know it requires time in prayer for I am also aware that it will stir up spiritual warfare.
Because we are approaching the big holiday season, I need to stay focused on other things right now. As some of you may know I own my own business and this time of year is a make or break deal with the financial end of the business. I don’t have the time or energy to get deep into this topic and to fight a spiritual war; please forgive me. I do promise during this Christmas season to work on the series and will come back to it in January. It is an important topic that needs light shed on it and I do plan on doing just that.
In the mean time I will continue to post on other things as I make my way through to the end of this year. There are certain things that are going on that I can’t wait to share with all of you. Thank you for your patients and understanding.
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