Osama bin Laden Dead? Don't Dance in the Streets and Celebrate Just Yet!

Osama bin Laden Killed by U. S. Forces --- one of many headlines flooding the media outlets on Monday, May 2, 2011

It's a day that many longed for with great anticipation -- the death of one considered by huge numbers of people, including some government leaders, to be the Number 1 enemy in the world, Osama bin Laden.

Interesting quotes from various sources:

Al-Qaida leader killed in operation led by Navy SEALs, CIA forces

President Barack Obama declared Monday that the U.S. had "kept its commitment to justice," saying the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was "a good day for America."

Obama: Bin Laden's death means world is a safer place

DNA evidence: 100 percent certain it was bin Laden

A word of caution here though very few have considered the possibilities of what can happen in the future so far as the United States is concerned. It is no time to dance in the streets and celebrate in the same spirit as you would if your favorite team has just won the Super Bowl!

Consider why we should refrain from expressing a spirit of joy and gladness in the death of Osama bin Laden:

First, this is just one man with a lot of connections who is a hero and a noble example to those who engage in terrorists' activities, with the United States prominently on the list of targeted nations. What do you suppose is going to be the reaction of highly trained terrorist groups as leaders in the United States strut about boasting of this great "accomplishment?" At least a few of us take the position that these people will not sit down and twiddle their thumbs for months or years before they begin to embark on a campaign of revenge! The best approach would have been to keep the whole operation a secret and not let it be known that the man had been killed, but our deceptive pride would never permit that to take place!

Second, the blessing of God is no longer upon us as in times long since past. We are a nation steeped in defiance and stubbornness when it comes to taking God and His holy standards seriously for establishing a sane, sensible, serene, sober, secure, and stable republic. Leading the way as a special "invitation" for God to pour out His wrath on us is the fact that we intentionally destroy 25,000 unborn children every week. And this is done with the express approval of our president and a large number of the members of the U.S. Congress! Other issues that also place us in the precarious position of being harshly judged by Almighty God are discussed at "Driving the Final Nails". So it is not wise to celebrate the death of one considered to be a great enemy to our nation and to the world at large! We have a heap of work to do in getting our own house in order ethically, morally, and spiritually.

Third, God's standard in regard to the defeat and/or death of those considered to be enemies is quite different than the usual human approach. In His Word God reveals this:

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him. --- Proverbs 24:17,18

But of course, to make reference to such a statement as the preceding from God's Word, is to simply confirm the fact that we as a nation do not want God meddling in our affairs, especially when we are so used to living in a proud and self-serving fashion. Who in the world wants to listen to God -- He's too unreasonable in His demands, so we'll just do things our way!

The day will come when the celebration in the streets will be turned into intense mourning and maybe, just maybe, someone will say, "We need to pray and call on God!" And His response may well be a repeat of what He said a long time ago when a people turned to Him in a crisis. I will not quote that here, but if you dare, turn to Jeremiah 2 in the Old Testament of the Bible and see the details. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

In spite of the growing intensity of calamities striking our republic as time goes on, there is no real serious call that we need to repent and turn to God as a nation. Those in elected leadership refuse to seriously take God at His Word and those in church leadership don't seem all that concerned either as to the fact that we may well have crossed over the line of God's offer of grace and mercy on condition of repentance and now it is a matter of time until He brings judgment!!

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. "Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. --- Romans 12:19-21

Still in Honeymoon Mode After 56 Years!

Clayton & Jean - June 13, 1953

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 19:4-6

Today is Jean's and my 56th wedding anniversary. It was 56 years ago today at about 8:30 PM in evening at a little country Methodist Church 6 miles south of Clarion PA that God joined us together to be husband and wife. The wedding had been set for 8:00 PM, but the pastor, Paul B. Dunlap, was over 20 minutes late due to driving from the Erie Annual Conference session which was being held at Allegheny College in Meadville PA.

We still regard this as being in honeymoon mode in spite of the years involved -- more in love with each other than ever, if that is possible! We dated for two years before taking the big step into marriage and even then people thought we were too young for such responsibility. The summer we started dating Nat King Cole's song, "Too Young," hit the top in the charts. It's always been one of our favorite secular selections of music.

We did get a bit of a running start in the world since both of us graduated from high school when we were 16 years of age. So here we were standing before the altar in the church at ages 19 and 17 and taking vows of love and loyalty to each other as long as we would live.

God did not become real and personal to us until a few years later when each of us accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and He did a miracle of change in our lives. Shortly after becoming Christian the call to serve the Lord in preaching and teaching His Word came and within about 22 months after accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord, we were appointed to serve two Methodist Churches in New Castle PA.

As a wife and mother of young children, Jean never complained about our being in the ministry. She often sacrificed in ways I cannot describe in this space. Her love never wavered. No man could ask for a better wife than she. God has so wonderfully blessed us through these many years, undeserving as we are!

That is why we are still in honeymoon mode after all these years. Earlier today on Facebook I mentioned what I consider one of the greatest testimonies to the special nature of marriage and why it is so valued by a couple who are deeply in love with each other. A man was asked one time this question: "If there was really such a thing as reincarnation and you came back in a second life on earth, what would you want to be?" His answer was immediate as he said, "If there were really such a thing as reincarnation, I would want to come back as my wife's second husband!"

I rest my case!

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD. --- Proverbs 18:22

Same couple above a few years later down the road of life!

Lots of Smarts Minus the Fear of God Equals Failure!

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. --- 1 Corinthians 1:19-21

References to the fact that Barack Obama is smart, brilliant and all those other terms which define a high level of intelligence have been applied to the president in recent days as the nation he is attempting to lead finds itself in great turmoil for many reasons.

Even persons who are high profile in the mass media and who claim to be “conservative” or beyond in their position on issues of the day are making reference to the president’s supposed “brilliance.”

But one main thing is missing – it’s like the missing cornerstone in a building’s foundation or the main drive wheel missing in a machine or the main spring being absent in a clock. With that being the case, commonsense tells us that it just isn’t workable – there is failure, pure and simple!

Lots of smarts do not guarantee success – oh, at times it may appear so, but eventually things happen in such a way that whatever venture was attempted by the person with all those “smarts” eventually ends in failure! God has plainly revealed a lot about the kind of “smarts” which make the difference in life – whether one will be successful or one will miserably end up a failure. Is anyone so foolish as to believe he or she can improve upon the formula given us in the following statements?

For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths; to deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead; none who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life; so you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness. For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it. My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. --- Proverbs 2:6-3:6

At certain points in reading through the above, do visions of politicians in Washington DC and the state capitols of this republic come into your mind? You know, statements such as those who “rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked, whose ways are crooked?”


President Obama, in spite of his “smarts,” has produced no evidence of possessing a healthy and reverential fear of Almighty God in the discharge of his responsibilities. Not one word has been reported that he and his family have established a disciplined pattern of public and private worship in their lives, which violates the clear teaching of Christianity in the New Testament. This is critical in setting an example for others and as a personal witness to a living faith centered in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. There is absolutely no way a person who claims a faith which identifies with Christianity can dodge this responsibility!

Further, there is no evidence that the will of Almighty God is sought in major decision-making moments which impact the lives of 306 million persons in the United States not to mention those in other nations of this chaotic world.

Worst of all is the attitude that human life in its developing stages is a disposable commodity and we can wipe out thousands a week as often as we choose because we have a “right” to do so! A person who has “smarts” which have been imparted by the Spirit of God would not be so foolish nor so stupid to adopt such an approach which guarantees the certain displeasure of Almighty God!

It boils down to this – it is possible to gain “smarts” in life through study, be awarded college and graduate degrees with high honors, impress the world with communication ability and do leadership activities which win rave reviews from ardent devotees in the mass media but still miserably flunk out and fail in the long run!

There is a great difference between what is labeled the “wisdom of this world” and that which is the wisdom imparted to an obedient follower of Jesus Christ through His Spirit! This difference becomes quite obvious when it comes to those who hold positions of leadership at the highest levels of governments all over the world!

Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words: "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my reproof; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil." --- Proverbs 1:20-33

Pennsylvania Wildlife Anxiously Await Implementation of This Redistribution Thing!

Plumber to Obama: “Your new tax plan is going to tax me more. Isn’t it?”

Obama: “It’s not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” --- as noted on Fox News, October 13, 2008

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has an abundance of wild life which keeps the PA Game Commission extremely busy throughout the year. Among the many species is a creature called the black bear. These are also rather numerous and can cause a lot of problems in a variety of ways. They often come on our property and raid our bird feeders. Some time back I got a lot of pictures of a “nuisance bear” who destroyed my sunflower feeder one noon day – he hauled it down, sat down and proceeded to eat, giving me a look which said, “If you don’t like it, throw me off your property!” I said he was a nuisance bear – he had a tag in each ear which were clearly visible in photos which I took from about a distance of 15 to 20 feet away. That meant he had been trapped at least 2 times, tagged each time, and transported to a remote area in the forests of Pennsylvania with hopes he would stay in the wild, but obviously this one didn't get the message!

And I saw one just a few weeks ago on my morning walk – he was on the road about 100 yards or less from me and only moved when a car was approaching. Then there was a young one which I saw walking down behind our home in the back yard just recently. And just a few days back a truck hit one on a highway just a few miles from us – this one weighed 523 pounds – lots of bear there!

Rumors are now flying that the PA Game Commission has been observing that changes are taking place among our state’s wildlife population. Perhaps it is best explained in the below picture of a black bear who seems to be overwhelmed with B.O.’s redistribution plan. Notice how he is patiently waiting to be served – that is, to get his “share” which used to be in the possession of someone else!

On November 5th we will all know whether or not “Blackie” pictured above will get generous amounts of something, which formerly belonged to someone else, set before him or whether he will have to go back to raiding bird feeders and garbage cans!

Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. --- Proverbs 23:33

Hold On -- The Last Word Has Yet to Be Spoken on That Monster Bailout Bill!

House to revisit bailout after Senate passes plan -- Senators add ‘sweeteners’ to the proposal, aiming to secure House’s vote –--- Auto sales fall; 1 in 5 dealers may close
--- a couple of headlines on the Internet, October 2, 2008

The scrambling continues in that place known as Washington DC as the U.S. Congress attempts to get that gigantic bailout bill passed and on to the president’s desk for signature. One headline said, “Senators add ‘sweetners’ to the proposal, aiming to secure House’s vote.” It has been noted that this stuff has increased the amount to much more than the original 700 billion dollar figure!

Yea, sure – isn’t it rather common knowledge that a lot of politicians have connections with the wealthy, including CEO’s and that generous contributions have always been a staple in their holding on to their coveted positions in DC? Plus you have that crowd known as lobbyists who put on the pressure when it comes to voting on things that have to do with money, and a guarantee that those who have tons of the stuff will be sure to hold on to it and get much more of it!

Nauseating details in recent days of what CEO’s of failed financial institutions were given by way of salaries, perks and those notorious “golden parachutes.” As reported by one person, they literally walked away with millions. It all translates into a thing called greed and giving the average American citizen an obscene gesture while they grab all they can as quickly as they can.

But we’ve got to hang on, folks, and realize that the last chapter has yet to be written – no, the U.S. Congress won’t write it, nor will the president, no matter how many bills he signs which will allow the guilty parties to get off with very little if anything by way of penalty.

What would be a very good thing which would send a clear message to those others in top level management who are doing about the same thing but so far have not seen their company/institution go belly up, is to take all the assets and property owned by those who were in the upper levels of management of the failed institutions. Let those funds be applied to the debts incurred by the loss due to financial failure.

Then let those upper level “managers” be given an annual income of the average family of four in this country and an average home such a family lives in provided for them. Further, let them pay what an average family of four would pay by way of obtaining insurance and health benefits. Give them a car such as one the average family of four would have.

Actually no jail time would be necessary – the more effective and fitting punishment would be for these people and their families who have been driven by greed for years to have to experience the struggles of an average family of four or more on a limited income in this republic. No longer having that mansion and domestic servants and whatever else by way of “homes” and “vacation get-aways,” driving luxury automobiles, sending the kids to those prestigious “ivy-league” universities and getting those special favors from politicians that the rest of us will never get, would be punishment enough!

And, yes, I already know – there will not really be any kind of true justice done regarding those who exhibited such irresponsible leadership, caused financial ruin, and still hold on to their fortunes – or as mentioned earlier, that these white collar people literally “walked away with millions!”

But there is good news in the midst of the bad news on this bailout and the criminals who got away with everything just short of 1st degree murder.

Jesus Christ will write the last chapter and have the last word – it’s simply a matter of time! And while within the ranks of those who profess to be “Christian” there are those who deny that He will do much of anything and that He isn’t coming back to this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, there is a small minority that is fully persuaded that He will set this world right side up – He will control and rule it totally and will judge every human being personally – yes indeed, each one of us will give an account to Him as to what we have done with our lives and the material goods entrusted to our care! It's all spelled out in God's special revelation to us, if you'd care to look it up -- and then decide, does God mean what He says or does He not?

For those driven by their greed and lusts and who caused such financial chaos in countless ways, God has especially singled them out for condemnation:

The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." --- Psalm 52:6, 7

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death..... He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage. --- Proverbs 11:4, 28

As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right; it will leave him in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool. --- Jeremiah 17:11

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." --- Mark 10:23-25

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. --- James 5:1-5

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. --- 1 Timothy 6:17

The above are but a few of God's statements about money and those who become enslaved by it, having made it their "god" and consequently have brought severe condemnation upon themselves in the process. It remains, that very few people can handle wealth and power in a responsible fashion for the betterment of not only their own lives but the lives of large numbers of people who are impacted by decisions which such persons make on a daily basis.

There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. --- Proverbs 13:7

How NOT to Start a Riding Lawn Mower!

Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting. --- Part of safety instructions from lawn mower manual

It was not a major repair job, but the next thing to it. This Dynamark riding mower has been around quite a few years. I had gotten it new and eventually left my son have it for his lawn which is rather large. But things happened eventually, including starting problems and a frayed cable which engages the blades in the mowing operation.

So I found a place which specializes in parts such as what I needed and fortunately they had the parts in spite of the fact that the mower now qualifies to be labeled “antique!” Those replacement parts included a starter, a solenoid and a cable assembly for the blades.

It proved to be a bit of a drawn out procedure – the removal of shrouds covering the 18 HP twin cylinder Briggs & Stratton engine and then getting the bolts removed which held the parts in place – I won’t go into detail other than to say that I told Jean that I hadn’t experienced a nightmare nut and bolt experience like that since I worked on airplanes at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina a long, long time ago! Engineers who design things should first be made to work on those things for a few weeks before they go out the door for sale! Trust me – there would be a lot of re-designing before sale time!

Anyway, I got the starter changed. Then came the solenoid which was in a most ungodly location – that is, if you have to change it, which is what I was about to attempt. It got to be a real circus as I attempted to get a wrench on the bolt underneath and then reach into a tight space on top and try to get a wrench on the nut holding down the solenoid. After much time had passed I finally got both the nuts removed and then came the fun of installing the new solenoid. Again – time passed and eventually I saw light at the end of the tunnel. I hooked up the power from the battery and the little wire from the key on one post and then the cable to the starter on the other post. Having done this, I decided to try something which I learned a long time ago about testing starters and solenoids – take a screw driver and touch both posts of the solenoid. Some sparks and fire will fly, but if everything is in working order, the starter cog wheel will jump up, connect with the engine flywheel and start to crank it for running mode. Well, it did and verified that things were in order.

But that cable still had to be installed – another nightmare because part of the hookup was in the same area as the solenoid – a tight place in which the natural course of events results in skinned hands etc.

At one point as I tried to maneuver the piece into place with one hand from one direction, I reached inside from the other direction over top of the solenoid in order to get a nut started on the assembly. My skin was sweaty and all of a sudden sparks flew, the starter cog engaged and the flywheel on the engine started turning – I also felt some pain on the underside of my wrist! I had touched both posts of the solenoid and true to form, it was starting time for that 18 HP engine with my wrist being the conductor of power.

Here’s what happened – I ended up with a burn about ¾ of an inch long and about ½ inch wide about where my watch band is located when I am wearing my watch. I had previously removed it for this installation procedure. Later in the evening I had a water blister about the size of those dimensions I just mentioned.

What’s the point in all this? There are certain “rules” to follow in the starting of a rider lawn mower – don’t try to do it any other way, and that does include the screwdriver “method” as well as the accidental “wrist” method!

That experience, however, is one in which I will survive with a reminder that next time “go by the book” and don’t short circuit the process!

More serious is the fact that humans too often are inclined to want to “short circuit” God’s purposes. We are a people inclined to reject what God wants in light of His revelation to us – He has plainly spelled out the way of forgiveness, salvation and hope through His Son, Jesus Christ, but outside the church as well as inside the church we are hearing that there are “other” ways to come to God! Jesus Christ just happens to be one of many "options" -- sort of like wandering through a super buffet and picking out what strikes your fancy at the moment!

God has given a lot of details of His past actions as well as providing future details as to what He plans to do with this world and the people in it. But for the most part, God's future plans are rejected and the rebel human spirit declaring that we are the "masters of our fate" and will determine what will or will not be!

God has revealed the standards for acceptable morality but we are in times of “change” with humans wanting to set the standards and rejecting the boundaries that God has established by way of acceptable sexual behavior!

The end result of such shenanigans? Why there will be a burn, of course, and much larger than ½ by ¾ of an inch!

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. --- Proverbs 14:12

So, Edwards Had An Affair – Why All the Fuss, Anyhow?

Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love. For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress? --- Proverbs 5:15-20

John Edwards finally “fessed up” – he did disregard his marital vows for a time as he was in the midst of seeking to become the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.

So, what’s all the excitement about – other than the fact that the mass media people enjoy chomping on this subject more than about anything else they bite into! As always, it is the repeat of sharks reacting to a big batch of blood in the water.

Some things to keep in mind while salivating on this matter of John getting more than hand-shake friendly with a female other than his wife:

1. He’s not the first to do a thing like this – the list is by no means short when it comes to politicians playing bedroom games with women other than their mates over years past – unfortunately, a number of them are still living today!

2. There is a strong resistance to making an issue of such a happening when it involves a politician – after all, what he does in private is none of our business, is it? Hey, I’m just quoting what appears to be a rather common held belief in our culture!

3. The standards of morality have changed drastically over the past few decades – what God has to say about human sexuality is not at all significant in this country any longer. One of the main reasons for this being that we humans have come to the point of determining for ourselves what is right and wrong, and that includes our sexual activity.

4. Big names in the entertainment industry have set a powerful example in human relationships and have long since lost the ability to even blush a bit when it comes to the practicing of sexual immorality in brazen fashion, and at times conceiving children while doing so. The publicity they receive in all this is worth a fortune and the influence on our young folk is impossible to measure. We do have an interesting statistic in connection with all this which was released not so long ago – one out of every four teen-aged girls has at least one STD (sexually transmitted disease) and some have more than one! Sleep on that one tonight!

5. Churches have begun to capitulate to the pressure to back off from hard line positions on the issue of human sexuality. The battle is especially intense in the area of sodomy and lesbianism. So if we soften up regarding that area, why not include adultery, incest, fornication, child molestation and sex with animals as well?

Getting all caught up in a frenzy over an aspiring politician and his sex life? Forget it – this is the United States in the 21st Century – sex is fun with anyone (or more than one anyone at the same time), anywhere and at any time, aren’t you aware?

Or do you happen to be one of that few who are labeled religious fanatics and who are best described as having very low angle foreheads with little beady eyes located too close together and fire is spewing forth from the mouth – you know, that small minority which still insists that God has established clear boundaries on human sexuality and these apply to all persons, including politicians!

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. --- Hebrews 13:4

55 Years of Honeymooning and Still Counting!

Clayton (age 19) and Jean (age 17) (Botzer) Harriger - June 13, 1953

Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love....... He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD. --- Proverbs 5:18, 19; 18:22

Yes, it's true -- as of today, Jean and I have been honeymooning for 55 years! No, it's not been a quick get-away to Hawaii or Acapulco or wherever the so-called "romantic" places are found that are associated with honeymoon travel packages. But our love for each other is such as I attempt to tell couples who want me to do their marriage ceremonies -- love for one another is somewhat like a rosebud -- not yet fully matured, but as time passes the rose breaks out into full bloom -- in marriage the rose continues to bloom and bloom and bloom (add many more blooms if you want)!

Fifty-five years ago today we violated the standard custom that the groom was not to see his bride before coming down the church aisle to become his wife. Because of a tight schedule between my leaving airman training school near Memphis TN and reporting to Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in NC, we had to pick up our marriage license on the day of our marriage at the court house in Kittanning PA -- both of us had to appear to get the license.

It was a hot day, but sunny. The wedding was scheduled for 8:00 PM in the evening mainly because the pastor was at the Methodist Annual Conference in Meadville PA, some miles away. He was 20 minutes late getting to the church -- a frantic pianist was just told to keep playing until he arrived.

Finally the ceremony got underway at Monroe Chapel Methodist Church midway between Clarion and Sligo PA on Route 68. And so a young couple who had been dating for 2 years finally became husband and wife. The rose was still in the budding stage!

We left for NC on Monday, June 15th. We got an apartment in New Bern which was about 20 miles from Cherry Point. Jean got a job at a movie theater close to our apartment. Those who were married and living off base did not have to stay on the base with one exception. I drew 60 days of guard duty in October of '53 and spent 3 days on base with 2 days off each cycle.

Even though we were not Christian at the time, God extended a host of mercies of which we were totally unaware -- we now refer to that as experiencing the prevenient grace of God. We were blessed with a son, Richard, nearly 2 years later at the base hospital.

Many, many stories could be told over that span of time as God in mercy brought us eventually to the place where we saw the need to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives. Shortly after that came a clear and specific call to preach God's Word in pastoral ministry. Approximately 21 months after Jesus changed our lives, I was appointed to serve two Methodist Churches in New Castle PA.

Out of this marriage union have been born 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The Lord willing, on July 19th I will perform the marriage ceremony of a grandson, Andy. That date will also be birthday #1 for our youngest grandchild, Owen. There is quite an age span among the grandchildren -- the oldest will be 28 this coming November and the youngest, Owen, as mentioned, will be 1 year old on July 19th.

It has made for adventure all the way. But the greatest has been facing each day with the firm assurance that we do not ever walk alone -- our Lord is present always to make a way. He has wonderfully blessed us over these many years, in the best of times as well as in those very trying times.

After honeymooning for 55 years, we can still say to each other, "The best is yet to be!"

I'm 100 per cent sold on marriage as God designed it for male and female -- don't try to expand on that -- Jesus didn't, did He?

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." --- Matthew 19:4-6

Learning from Mr. & Mrs. Goose!

Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love. For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths.
--- Proverbs 5:15-21

At this time of year I see them every morning on my morning walk. I changed my schedule a bit. I roll out between 4:30 and 5 AM -- I sleep in a while now that I am "retired" -- before retiring from the United Methodist ministry I got up at 4 AM each morning.

I have my devotional time -- the Bible reading part of the devotion time takes me through the whole Bible once and the New Testament a second time in a year plus the other trips I take, especially time spent with the Old Testament prophets. And as mentioned in yesterday's post -- it's a great experience since the World's Greatest Theologian is always present to tutor and guide in these sessions!

I used to leave the house at about 6 AM for my walk. As you know, it's a bit dark at that hour at certain times of the year. So I have changed to leaving the house at about 7 AM, but I'm still up by 5 AM -- I just continue in prayer mode on my walk.

Anyway, during my walk I hear them coming -- their honking tells me they are on the way -- a pair of Canada geese. Often they fly very close overhead and barely clear the tree tops at times.

I submit that we can learn a thing or two from this pair.

• This species mates for life -- no "revolving door" for them in the matter of changing partners as is so common in United States' culture and the way we humans relate to one another with our adopted philosophy that "sex is fun with anyone (or more than one anyone at the same time) anywhere and at any time -- just name when and where!"
  
  
• They are committed to family -- both Mr. & Mrs. Goose are involved. We have seen some of those families at Duman Lake Park near where we live. I recall one occasion of a gander standing with head and neck extended as he kept looking about while the female and the young 'uns were eating at the breast works of the dam. He conveyed something by his very appearance -- "Don't bother me or my family or there will be big trouble!" That's the kind of commitment that has pretty much disappeared in our republic as family break down continues unabated!
  
  
• They know where they are going -- I'm not sure where Mr. & Mrs. Goose are headed -- but each morning they are coming from the same place and are headed toward the same place -- which is more than can be said for most humans. The main problem is that the majority have bought into a false system of values -- the idea is that if we accumulate enough material goods, including lots and lots of money, and pursue a myriad of pleasures we will gain happiness and fulfillment, or will we? Consequently we're not sure where we are going as we compete in the "rat race" of life! One fellow who thought he had arrived and had it all put together was bluntly told, "You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" Ah, for verification on that take a look at Luke 12 in the New Testament.
  

Yes, Virginia, things such as fidelity, commitment and knowing one's destination are still things that make for a very profitable and satisfying life experience! Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Goose, as you fly overhead for reminding me of this each morning!

And now a PS: This piece, as many of my rantings and ravings in this blog tend to be, was in the "incubator" for a while. Today, 08-04-02, as I took my walk the honking was extremely loud and it was obvious that more than 2 were involved -- and then I saw them again coming from the same direction and flying low as usual -- but there were about a dozen! Mr. & Mrs. Goose had some friends with them on the flight this AM! Hey, there's a lesson there too -- Christians, having been born again by a miracle work of the Holy Spirit, are the only people on the face of this planet who are absolutely sure of their destination -- ought we not be at the business of inviting others to travel along with us? Jesus has made it possible for all to travel to that sure and certain destination known as Heaven, has He not? Thanks again, Mr. & Mrs. Goose, for conveying another great lesson for us humans as we trod this sod called earth!

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." --- Jesus in John 14:1-3

Will the Feddy Be Able to Overcome the Eddy?

News of a fire sale at Bear Stearns (BSC, news, msgs) had global markets in pandemonium today, even after the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank stepped in Sunday night to try to restore confidence in the financial-services sector.

After a rocky week for Bear Stearns, JPMorgan Chase (JPM, news, msgs) announced on Sunday that it would acquire the Wall Street giant for a mere $2 per share in a stock-swap deal.....--- opening atatement in news release on finance matters during morning of March 17, 2008

eddy - a current of air, water, etc. moving against the main current and with a circular motion; little whirlpool or whirlwind. --- Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

Ok, ok -- so it's a bit of a game with words and expressions -- "feddy" is my coined expression for the U. S. Federal Reserve and "eddy" of course is defined as noted above. Eddy represents the financial "current" which these days often goes against the flow of the goals of government, corporations and powerful individuals when it comes to a commodity called money.

The stock market continues to lose ground with what are considered "bad news" reports related to finance. The Federal Reserve then cuts interest rates a half point or so. Then there is a surge and the Dow "rebounds" -- this may be as much as 100 to 200 points or more! But as time passes there is another slide.

There is no lacking in the field of professed financial "experts" -- the guys that tell you how best to invest your money and what the hot stocks are, etc. Cable channels have programs devoted to this subject and there is an endless parade of discussions on the economy and the world of finance. The one thing they do not or are unwilling to face -- this so-called wealth (fat portfolios with "profitable" investments) thing is mainly on paper plus the fact that our nation is trillions of dollars in debt with some foreign countries owning a lot of that debt, including a major player called China!
Now the question is this -- how long will the Federal Reserve (Feddy) have to cut the rates to keep things on an even (and prosperous) keel so far as the United States' economy is concerned? Will they reach a point where there can be no more "cutting" because they have reached the big "0?" Will they reach a point where lenders will have to pay people or companies to borrow money? Yea, I know that is an absurd and very stupid question, but since I was on a roll with this -- I just had to toss it in!

On a more serious note -- when enough people and those who are in control of corporations have made money their god, the time does come when the Creator, Who owns all things including that which is finance related, of this universe begins to bring on some unpleasant happenings. It starts with something called chastisement and often will be directed to those things which have become an idol -- you know, something (or combination of things) which have priority in our lives and God and His revelation to us are placed in the corner somewhere to gather dust!

Note a few statements about this matter from God's point of view -- please understand that most people who hold all positions in life are not the least bit interested in God's point of view on anything! This alone mainly explains why our republic is in the chaotic condition that it is at the present time!

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage... He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty... A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him... There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction... Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days... "The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' And every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' And they threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" --- Proverbs 11:28; 22:16; 28:22; Ecclesiastes 6:1, 2; James 5:1-3; Revelation 18:15-20

A conclusion to all this? Simply, that when money has become a prominent "god" in a culture, then Almighty God Who put this universe together by spoken command will so arrange things that even Feddy cannot overcome the Eddy!

The solution, of course, is a deliberate choice of action called repentance from sin -- but that is something which about all cultures at any given time refuse to do -- there are ruins from out of the past that bluntly remind us of this unchanging fact!

Look! Is that your money going down that bathroom piece of furniture? Quick, call "Feddy" -- maybe it can put the brakes on it!

The Money god Is Getting Hammered -- More to Come???

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death...He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage...He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty...A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him. --- Proverbs 11:4, 28; 22:16; 28:22

Just like watching worms on the proverbial hot skillet -- see the people in finance circles scrambling like crazy! The mighty Fed again has reduced interest rates -- the president is now talking of an even "bigger" stimulus package and is in discussion with congressional leaders as to what can be done QUICKLY to end this financial chaos. Markets elsewhere in the world are "hemorrhaging" so it seems and the dollar is being battered everywhere!

But they won't ever learn -- greed has been running amok for a long time in this world and persons with great wealth and power seemed to have been on a roll -- maybe the time has come when the Creator of this universe is saying that this game of greed has gone on long enough and it's time to end it.

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. --- James 5:1-5

If that should be the case, then all human efforts to "shore up" financial markets throughout the world will be in vain -- one thing sure, the god of money, which has its tentacles securely wrapped around huge numbers of people, will be brought down eventually.

When we refuse to make Almighty God first place in our lives and refuse to honor Him with words, actions, and especially our use of material gain, then we are in for consequences we cannot even begin to imagine. Consider what the foremost Authority on human behavior had to say about this thing called money:

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." --- Mark 10:23-25

Three Prominent Buildings in Washington DC Are in Urgent Need of Repainting!

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.." ...my son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. --- Proverbs 1:10, 11, 15, 16

Yes, indeedy – certain buildings in Washington DC are in urgent need of repainting! You may ask why this should be since everything looks pretty good from news photos and/or personal observations about the city, etc.

The three prominent buildings which need to be repainted are the White House, the Capitol Building, and the Supreme Court Building which stands not too far from the Capitol.

What color? There is only one appropriate color – blood red! Now, hold on for a moment – think it through and see if that color isn't a more accurate reflection of what the city is about as it hosts the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of the federal government in a republic known as the United States of America.

White symbolizes purity, but by what stretch of the most carnal imagination could one conclude that Washington DC is a display of that very holy and noble trait? No, let's make it a color that tells us what kind of city it really is, not what it pretends or professes to be!

The blood of millions of murdered unborn innocent children must be laid at the doorsteps of these buildings and rest upon the heads of those persons who occupy those buildings!

January 22, 1973 will go down as a date much more infamous than December 7, 1941 – the Japanese sneak attack took a few thousand lives – what the Supreme Court did in January of 1973, with ongoing support by many in the Legislative Branch and indifference by others in that same branch of government, and no serious or prolonged objection from the Executive Branch, the toll is moving up toward 50 million victims! That’s an ocean of innocent blood since 1973!

So that everyone may know – people who see news video and published photos of those buildings – tourists who view them on site – let the White House, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court Building be repainted bloody red in color. That will more accurately reflect and witness to what we have become before the entire world – a nation which has devised its own special tailor-made version of “Holocaust.”

But perhaps before the paint is mixed and the cans opened, God will step in and do some things by way of action that will quickly remind all of us that we really didn’t get away with it after all. Furthermore, in our stupidity of throwing around that term, “constitutional rights,” we will discover too late that our warped interpretation of claiming it is a “constitutional right” to shed innocent blood does not supersede the moral laws of Almighty God Who had a special plan in mind for each one of those millions of victims!

W A S H I N G T O N
D C

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! Then say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself. You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult.'"
--- Ezekiel 22:1-5

Bits 'n Pieces from Here 'n There! - Vol. #1

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. --- Proverbs 5:21-23

Michael Vick's Jersey Put to Very Good Use!
Did you hear the good news? Some group donated a batch of Michael Vick's #7 football jerseys for use in cleaning up doggy doo-doo and other undesirable materials from dog pens. You remember, that Michael Vick, multi-million dollar baby of the Atlanta Falcons, is in more than doggy doo-doo as a result of involvement in illegal dog fighting activities and other stuff. What an appropriate way to use a jersey with his name and number on it! One better thing would be to add to his sentence a daily requirement for him to clean dog pens for about 3 hours leading up to lunch time and that he would always have to use the #7 jersey with his name on it! That is, if he gets much of a sentence out of this fiasco -- it is said he will face a "tough" judge -- depends on how much of a Falcons fan the judge is as to how "tough" he is going to be!

Those Weather People and Hurricane Reporting!
Greed and one-upmanship combine to produce strange and idiotic results! Have you noticed how weather people are out in the midst of strong hurricanes doing their reporting -- trying to hold on to head gear, hold a microphone, maintain balance in vicious winds and heavy rain, and all the while confessing that people need to evacuate or have been evacuated because of the great DANGER which exists as the hurricane blows through the area! But competition being what it is, the attitude is, "I'll stand in the middle of this thing so I can go one better than my competitor reporters and get a good bonus, even if I get killed in the process!" If there is a Guinness Book of Records for stupidity, these people will have the next thing to a lock on the title!

Insurance Reps and Helmet Wearing on ATV's!
Is this a major debacle or what? In a prominent ATV magazine with a lot of pictures of action on the 4-wheelers you always see the riders wearing helmets plus other protective gear. If it is a still shot with the ATV parked and the rider either seated or standing beside the machine, he is holding the helmet if not wearing it. One insurance company is running an ad with 3 reps pictured on ATV's in such a position as to convey the idea they are about to take off on a ride. One thing obviously very, very wrong -- none is wearing a helmet, nor holding one -- in fact, not a helmet is to be seen anywhere! The emphasis is on safety and the need to be insured. But then, are the insurance reps a breed with extra hard heads which need no protection?????

There Is Murder and Then There Is a "Medical Procedure!"
Not so long ago a woman about 8 months pregnant was missing. Eventually her body was found and clear evidence that she had been murdered. Her boy friend was apprehended and at the news conference law enforcement officials announced that the boy friend would be charged with 2 (yes, that's right) -- 2 counts of murder -- the murder of the girl friend and the murder of the unborn child! How's that again? The boy friend gets charged with murdering an unborn baby, but the same day this all happened there were hundreds of unborn babies murdered in this country as a result of many acts of conspiracy with no charges of murder ever filed! A female decides she doesn't want to have the baby which is growing in her womb and so she contracts with some character who wears a white coat with the initials "M.D." behind his name, pays him a few hundred dollars, he mutilates and murders the unborn baby with his specialized "tools" and everyone (well, almost everyone) thinks this is a good thing because it is a constitutional right to have this happen thousands of times each week of the year! Perhaps that boyfriend could plead that he is really a "doctor" and was simply performing a late term abortion in a different way and unfortunately the mother died in the process. Yes, Virginia, hypocrisy is very much alive and thriving greatly in a republic known as the United States of America! But don't forget this, Virginia -- the Creator of this mighty universe has not yet made His response to this repugnant practice. Perhaps you better get your passport and get out of the country before He does -- it's not going to be very pleasant to be within the boundaries of the U.S.A. when that response is revealed as it most surely will be!

Potty Mouth Professionals!

Should professionals be expected to use language that isn't laced with profanity? It is obvious that among that crowd are those who cannot speak without injecting some vulgar term into what they are attempting to communicate!

Some examples:

(1) Dr. Phil is well known for his talk show (and counseling) program. We may get the last few minutes as we turn on our local newscast at noon time. For some, even 2 or 3 minutes of Phil goes a long, long way. Anyway, he was in a phone conversation with a lady who had a camera focused on her in her living room. Phil wanted to talk to her husband about a domestic issue, but he wasn't available -- Phil became a bit frustrated and in the process of speaking, used the word "ass" and he was not making reference to the little humble beast of burden which has long ears!

(2) A member of the U.S. Congress was speaking on a news sound bite over the issue of sending more troops into Iraq -- he attempted to emphasize the critical nature of such a move and stressed that we needed to be sure, only in front of the word, "sure," he had to insert the word, "damn."

(3) Even President Bush was caught using profanity at a meeting of the heads of some nations overseas -- he said something to Tony Blair, assuming the mike was turned off, but it wasn't -- and so everyone who saw the video and heard the statement found out that even a president can have a potty mouth!

(4) One of our grandsons was working toward a teaching degree and part of final preparation was spending time with hands on experience in a classroom. In his case it involved elementary aged students. He was just getting started with his class time when one of the students loudly used the infamous "f" word! Our grandson said it stopped him cold -- he didn't know what to do next and looked to the regular teacher for some guidance on the matter. It is well established by now that discipline of the little tykes when they get out of line either by speech or by conduct is a no-no. If you try to discipline them as they should be, you'll end up without a job and become a defendant in a lawsuit!

(5) And as you well know, that infamous "f" word is not limited to children and youth -- of course "mature" (term used very loosely) adults have made use of the word and the young 'uns decide they can use it too! It was back a spell that Vice President Dick Cheney was extremely frustrated in an exchange of words with some elected government officials and used the word publicly! Now then, would you want your young son or daughter to repeat the speech of a very high level elected official of the federal government -- worse yet, do you want them to grow up and be like such people?

Potty mouth language has become more and more accepted -- it's considered "cute" when a toddler begins to learn to talk and foul language pours out of his mouth -- things which he has picked up from adults or older siblings, by the way! But we simply shrug our shoulders and say that it's just the way life is -- things are different now in the 21st Century!

The pattern can be traced through the history of mass media in broadcasting and publishing enterprises. There was a day in which profanity was not used in what was considered a respectable publication, radio, or TV programming. Then came "ratings" in entertainment and everything began a corroding and corrupting process until we have "arrived" and foul language is as common place as hamburgers and pizza!

Almighty God has addressed all issues of life which have to do with human behavior, including the way we speak. He has made it clear that His Name is not to be taken in vain. But it is common place to hear people telling God to "damn" something, or when we hit our thumb with a hammer, for some reason it seems appropriate to utter the Name of Jesus Christ!

Here are a few statements which God has placed in His Word that apply to the things which come out of our mouths:

Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.-- Psalm 31:18

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for the cursing and lying which they speak. -- Psalm 59:12

They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. -- Psalm 94:4

For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. -- Psalm 139:20

"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." -- Matthew 12:34

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." -- Matthew 12:36

But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. -- Colossians 3:8

We humans have been created with the power to choose -- to exercise our will and take action for evil or for good. It would be a lot different, would it not, if more people, including the high profile potty mouth persons, would make it the prayer and desire of their hearts to implement the following statements into everyday living:

My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.
-- Psalm 119:172

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh shall bless His holy Name forever and ever.
-- Psalm 145:21

Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. -- Proverbs 8:6-8

I rest my case!

And for potty mouth people who may just happen to read this, whether you are a high profile professional or just an average citizen moving about from day to day, the following is for your use before leaving!

Don't worry, the septic tank is quite gigantic in size and can handle very well your multiple contributions!