Haiku for You

Here are a few Haiku poems I wrote:

                          Cool September day

                          God's world covered in soft light

                          Makes me feel content

                          

                          No one can predict

                          What tomorrow will bring us

                          Trust Jesus today

                          

                          Cold windy spring day

                          Water’s too cold for fishing

                          Wait a while longer

I hope you liked them.

The Lamplighter

Times are Changin'

I saw a Republican on TV a day or two ago; one of our “elected representatives” in the house or senate in Washington, D.C.  I can’t quote him verbatim.  He was saying something to the effect that he knew they blew it this time, however, if we would just reelect them in November they would get it right next time.

When pigs fly!  As my father-in-law used to say, “Throw out the old crooks.  Elect new crooks.”

It is absolutely imperative that all registered Republicans vote in the primary and vote against the incumbent … especially if that incumbent voted for the obscene $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill recently passed by congress.  I am reminded of what Flip Wilson used to say, “The Devil made me do it!”  Noooooooooooooo!  They did not vote for the bill because the Democrats made them do it.  They voted for the bill because they didn’t have the guts not to, and they didn’t have the skills to bring their case to the people.

The Democrats held defense spending hostage until the Republicans caved … and agreed to excessive spending on social programs.  The Republicans believed that they would be blamed if the government shut down because a spending bill failed to pass.

I remember the last time that happened.  The federal government shut down, and nobody missed it.

One of the most feared words in the English language among politicians and college students is MIDTERMS.  I will be voting in the Republican primary to turn out the incumbents.  Drain the swamp!

Of course, I will vote for Republican incumbents that make it to the general election in November.  Better a swamp dwelling Republican than a Democrat who hates America. Folks, we must send a Republican voting majority to the house and senate in November.  Get out and vote Republican … even if you have to throw up afterwards.

Bob Dylan wrote the following in support of a different cause.  However, the words ring just as true for the corrupt in both parties who must run for office next fall.  There is a revolt brewing, and true conservatives have a chance to help President Trump drain the swamp.

Come senators, congressmen,
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway,
Don't block the hall,
For he that' gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled,
There's a battle
Outside and it's ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'

                                                For the times they are a-changin'

Songwriters: BOB DYLAN
© BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO
For non-commercial use only.
Data From: LyricFind

Gov. Jerry Brown

California Governor Jerry Brown is an old hippie.  During a previous term as governor in the early 1980’s, he was unable to deal with an infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies.  Now he is unable to help President Trump deal with an infestation of people entering the country illegally.  Why should we expect anything different?

The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant;

it's just that they know so much that isn't so.

Ronald Reagan

https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=ronald+reagan

Supporting President Trump

Donald J. Trump is the duly elected President of the United States.  “Duly elected” means that he holds the office of President legally following an election that was conducted according to the provisions of the United States’ Constitution.

President Trump’s opponents in both major parties should stop trying to remove him from office by “trumping up” phony charges about the 2016 campaign.  To date, after extensive investigation, no evidence has been presented which establishes that President Trump, or others acting on his behalf, had a quid pro quo arrangement that promised anything in return for Russian interference that may have benefited President Trump in the election.

Furthermore, the President’s unfortunate history of philandering was well known prior to the election, and he was elected anyway.  Therefore, it is dishonest to try to use law suits to entrap him into perjury with trick questions about his past extramarital affairs.  Don’t tell me the accusers have not been “encouraged” to pursue their cases.

So, let’s please move on and get the peoples’ business done.

I did not vote for President Trump.  I wrote in for Ted Cruz.  I felt that, as a Christian I could not vote for President Trump, due to his history of misogyny and lack of moral character.  I was also concerned that he would not stand his ground on issues like the peoples’ right to keep and bear arms or the right to life, if things got tough.

However, I support what he is doing to help Americans have safer and more prosperous lives.  I believe that, as a Christian, I owe allegiance and cooperation to governmental authorities as long as they do not tell me to violate God’s commandments, or make me complicit in such violation.  It does not cause me a conflict of conscience to support the President’s policies if I agree that they are good for the American people; even if he is a swine with women.  I am sure that liberals had to make similar choices regarding (former) President Bill Clinton.

To be honest, I am very pleased with what President Trump has done (as President), so far.  If an election were held tomorrow, I might vote for him.  I want the things he wants for the country.

The same cannot be said for our Senators and Congressmen.  I want a Republican voting majority in both houses of congress.  I will never vote for a Democrat; ever again.

However, in the Republican primary, I will not vote for the incumbent Republican candidate; if a choice is offered.  I am going to step down from the podium for a moment to say plainly that I have never seen such a sorry bunch of incompetents as the current crop of Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate.  I would only vote for them if they make it to the ballot in the 2018 general election.

When I was in the Army, they taught us: “If you can’t respect the man, respect the rank.”  I respect what President Trump has accomplished, and I respect his abilities.  I have enough sins in my own past to avoid passing judgement on the President.  However, he has not demonstrated the kind of moral character that earns my respect.  Please pray for the First Lady.  Melania Trump has shown a lot of class in the face of what must be overwhelming humiliation.  She is a better wife than her husband deserves.

Politically, I consider myself to be a Christian conservative.  Every American must make up their own mind whether to support President Trump; including my fellow Christians.  I am not setting myself up as a model for others, but I support President Trump because I agree with his vision for America.

Jesus Lives

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. (emphasis added) For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' " Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. (emphasis added)."

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (emphasis added)

John 20: 1-29 NKJV

… "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” …

John 11: 25-26 NKJV

… that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation ...

Romans 10: 9-10 NKJV

For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Romans 10: 13 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10: 17 NKJV

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/

Palm Sunday, 2018

After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount

that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying,

"Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat;

untie it and bring it here.  "If anyone asks you, 'Why  are you untying it?'

you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it." So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them.

As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them,

"Why are you untying the colt?"  They said, "The Lord has need of it."

They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.

As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.

As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,

shouting: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him,

"Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,

saying, "If you had known in this day, even you,

the things which make for peace!

But now they have been hidden from your eyes.

For the days will come upon you

when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you,

and surround you and hem you in on every side,

and they will level you to the ground and your children within you,

and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." Luke 19:28-44 NASB)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/luke/19.html

Grow Up

According to a report on the Fox News web site today (03/22/2018), the former Vice President, Joe Biden, made some remarks that were regrettable recently. "They asked me if I'd like to debate this gentleman, and I said, 'No.' I said, 'If we were in high school, I'd take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him."

President Trump responded in a tweet, which was equally regrettable.  “Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy. Actually, he is weak, both mentally and physically, and yet he threatens me, for the second time, with physical assault. He doesn’t know me, but he would go down fast and hard, crying all the way. Don’t threaten people Joe!”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/22/latest-exchange-between-trump-biden-part-long-pattern-schoolboy-style-threats.html

Lamp in a Coroner urges both men to remember their position.  They are not just two guys who don’t like each other.  If former vice President Biden advocates violence against the President of the United States, he is breaking the law, and setting an example of lawlessness.  If the President responds in kind, he is contributing to the dialogue of violence that plagues this country.

With all due respect, sirs, you have a national audience.  You should be aware that unstable people may not understand the context in which your remarks are made.  They may construe the remarks as license to commit violence.

Enough already!  Rather than punishing law abiding citizens who own guns, our leaders should look first to themselves as progenitors of violence.  Grow up guys.  You are both over 70 years old.  Act like it.