More Than Words

More Than Words

https://youtu.be/UrIiLvg58SY

Nice soft rock song, isn't it?  The harmonies are beautiful. The melody is beautiful.  The guitar part is beautiful. That's great! Now I want to tell you about another way to look at the song.

Rev. Laura's title of her sermon got me thinking.  Jesus DID ask us for more than words. Just take a look at this verse.

1. 1 Timothy 5:3-16 King James Version (KJV)

3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.

4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

I know that it was long but it tells us something very important.  We are to take care of widows.

Now, look at this verse.

James 1:27 New International Version (NIV)

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Ah, so we're to take care of orphans, too.  Is that all? Someone else wanted to know the same thing.

Luke 10:25-37 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Footnotes:

Luke 10:27 Deut. 6:5

Luke 10:27 Lev. 19:18

Luke 10:35 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).

You can see that Jesus calls us to action, not just words.  Yes, words are important to receiving salvation but he didn't expect us to stop there.  Now, listen to this song again and imagine that Jesus is singing to you.

https://youtu.be/UrIiLvg58SY

More Than Words

https://youtu.be/UrIiLvg58SY

Nice soft rock song, isn't it?  The harmonies are beautiful. The melody is beautiful.  The guitar part is beautiful. That's great! Now I want to tell you about another way to look at the song.

Rev. Laura's title of her sermon got me thinking.  Jesus DID ask us for more than words. Just take a look at this verse.

1. 1 Timothy 5:3-16 King James Version (KJV)

3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.

4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

I know that it was long but it tells us something very important.  We are to take care of widows.

Now, look at this verse.

James 1:27 New International Version (NIV)

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Ah, so we're to take care of orphans, too.  Is that all? Someone else wanted to know the same thing.

Luke 10:25-37 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Footnotes:

Luke 10:27 Deut. 6:5

Luke 10:27 Lev. 19:18

Luke 10:35 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).

You can see that Jesus calls us to action, not just words.  Yes, words are important to receiving salvation but he didn't expect us to stop there.  Now, listen to this song again and imagine that Jesus is singing to you.

https://youtu.be/UrIiLvg58SY

DON'T PUNISH PAIN!

I was recently in the hospital where they tried to unclog one of my arteries.   They put me in all kinds of pain but the only painkillers they eould give me was two Tylenol and an 8mg Melatonin for my nerves.  That's right.   Tylenol and melatonin after having your heart poked in and twisted around and a scalpel cut in your groin.

It's ridiculous.   The DEA has too much power and they're goin after legitimate pain patients instead of the street criminals who are the ones doing all the overdosing.  They have the doctors so scared that they don't want to give patients ANY opiate narcotics.   If you're like me and can't take Tylenol or NSAIDs, it doesn't leave you anything.   Maybe they're trying to update the findings of the Nazis at Auschwitz?  That's what it feels like.

"Hey, we put that patient in a lot of physical pain.   Let's withhold his pain meds and see if we can put him in mental anguish too!"

Heck, they didn't even give me a bullet to bite on and a couple shots of whiskey.   They're way more inhumane than that now.   They have the MEANS to get you out of pain.   They just don't want to use it.

Anyway,  after about two hours of me screaming and my sister jumping on them real good, they gave me two whole milligrams of morphine.   It wasn't near enough but it was better than Tylenol.  Hell, they gave me 5 milligrams of morphine when I was eleven years old.  I generally get eight milligrams because I have a high tolerance.  My high tolerance isn't anything new.  I had a high tolerance when I was eighteen months old and got squashed by a car tire.   It's not something that I made up in order to get high.  I just want my pain relieved.

I have never seen doctors and nurses so smug about denying a patient pain relief.   I had a couple of nurses in the past who didn't feel like walking back to the station to get the medicine but nothing so hateful, unfeeling,  and uncaring before.  I thought I was kidnapped in my sleep and I woke up in some third world country or something.   No improvement in my heart, intense pain, and no painkillers.   That's what they provided.   Medical care in America now officially sucks!  Fuck them!

Maybe if we put some of these doctors in severe pain and let them see how it feels, they would understand better?  I'm not calling for violence against these "medical professionals" but I wouldn't be surprised if someone got really fed up and hurt them badly so that they could see what we go through on a daily basis.   'Nuff said.

Have the Democrats Fired the First Shot?

Today, in a closed door session, the Democratic leadership, voted to move on with the impeachment of President Trump. No Republicans were allowed and the charges they bring have already been proven false even after an almost three year, extremely partisan witch hunt in which no charges of collusion with Russia could be proven against the president. How can they impeach on false charges?

This has upset many Trump supporters as well as people who don't like Trump but can see that a great injustice against the American people and American voters is taking place. What are these American people supposed to do when the government completely disregards the laws of the land and falsely impeaches a president in spite of having no legal grounds? What are the true patriots supposed to do. What did the founders of the country do when their rights were completely disregarded?

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

This, the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence, indicates that they've had enough and they aren't going to take it anymore. They went on to outline the inalienable rights of all humans and their right to defend them.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

The South and a few Northern states are prepared to ignore the illegal impeachment of our president and do whatever is necessary to defend their rights against a government that no longer represents them. There are plenty of fine men who swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States who are sick and tired of being harassed, demonized, censured, and censored for excersizing their First Amendment right to express an opinion. They were just waiting for that final act of agression by the Democrats to push them that one final step.

Has this completely baseless mockery of an impeachment been the final straw that will get guns ablazing? Are we doomed to fight another Civil War? Is that what the Democrats wanted all along? Have the Democrats now fired the first shot? You tell me.

Please state your opinion in the comments. Feel free to like and share this article as you please.


~ The Second Amendment of the Constitution was added for a reason.

In Memory of Strawberry

In memory of Strawberry

Rest in peace, Megan Kelly Pender Burnham

I made this video for Strawberry before she came to stay with me.

https://youtu.be/8A5WxJTiPrIu

This was out first date.  We went to Kemah Boardwalk.

Strawberry used to call herself Delilah on LiveVideo so I played thos song on LiveVideo for her.

https://youtu.be/_7lD8ymt1k8

This was after the first time we made love.

https://youtu.be/ydR_ZveZ27c

This was at a club where I usually scouted for talent for the Woodstock 40th Anniversary Committee.

https://youtu.be/YpbogwQUQOU

This was Strawberry dancing at Gilley's while I was working putting Keith Gilley and his band on the Internet live

https://youtu.be/syrrC5PIQik

This was Strawberry playing at the hospital when the doctors said that she had two months to live.

https://youtu.be/AbfZ2ebxykE

I made this after Strawberry left me.   At that time her name was Megan Kelly Pender.   I had hurt enough to have another open heart surgery after she left and just wanted to forgive her so I could move on.  Thanks to Kenny Loggins for writing a song that expressed exactly how I felt at the time.  She had been responsible for my first heart surgery as well, but I don't want to go into the details at this time.  I loved her so much that I got Broken Heart Syndrome over her twice.  This was made with pictures and videos that she sent me.

Strawberry had some amazing qualities but her demons kept dragging her back.   She was an amazing pianist.  She did so well when she was with my mom and I but my roach infestation and my mothers hoarding probably helped drive her away.   I got the roach infestation cleared up shortly after she was gone, but it was too late.   I wish she had stayed a week longer and the roaches would have been gone.

We continued to communicate after she left and she told me that she was continuing to try.  I know about her many failures and her stays in rehab.  I will miss her texts, phone calls,  and video calls.   We had formed a lasting bond.

She eventually told me that she had found faith in God, but not Christ yet.  I hope she found Christ before she died.  Maybe I'll see her in heaven when it's my time to go?  May she rest in peace.

Addendum:

Here is a link to the pictures of Strawberry that I still have.

https://www.facebook.com/cal.jennings/media_set?set=a.10202504401584255&type=3&hc_location=ufi

I found this video.   Bbn   I made for Strawberry with her pictures.

I found our first show together on LiveVideo but you have to click the link because Blogger can't seem to find it.

This is the link.  Click me.

I made this one for Strawberry before she got here.  I was singing from the heart and playing the guitar back when my fingers still worked right.  I just found it.

I just found this song I wrote for the first time I asked her to be my Valentine on LiveVideo.   I did it as a 50s style song as sort of a joke.

That's all I can find for now.  I'll add more if I find anything,  then I might add some thoughts.  We'll see.

I found another one.   Strawberry said that this was her, but it doesn't look like when I knew her.

I used to kid Strawberry about being a Russian agent sent to destroy the Woodstock 40th Anniversary since she spoke Russian or something that sounded Russian.   She gave me a Russian name and said that was her name so I did this on LiveVideo for her.

Here's a song I sang for her after getting the news of her passing. 

https://m.starmakerstudios.com/d/playrecording?app=sm&from_user_id=6192448699938787&is_convert=true&recordingId=6192449400754709&share_type=copyLink

Please at least leave your name in the comments for Megan's memorial.  If you have comments,  videos,  or pictures that you would like to add, please send them to me on Facebook or send them to my email at space.eagle.productions@gmail.com 

GOOoooOOOLLY, Uncle Al! Lookie what I found!

GOOoooOOOLLY, Uncle Al!  Lookie what I found!

Double Naught Spy Naught Naught 6 ¾ here.  Ah went DEEP undercover to see what was up with all a them ladies what kept messagin’ me so much that I couldn't hardly do NOTHIN’ on USA.life.  I mean, I KNOW that I'm darn good lookin’ like my Uncle Al, but somethin’ jest didn't seem rite!

I decided ta follow them on Hangouts and give them mAh phone number like they asked, then I jest played along with whatever they said.  Them purty ladies shore could talk sweet! Thar musta been one heck of a run of bad luck because every one a them women had somethin’ terrible happen in thar lives.  Some of them had ta go stay with thar poor, sick granny ta take care of her, but all a them women wanted to come marry ME! If I'da let 'em, what woulda happened ta thar poor, sick granny?  A whole bunch a them lost thar husbands in a car accident two years ago. 2017 must have been a really unlucky year for car accidents. Another couple a them lost thar whole families in a car accident.  One a them was a Christian refugee in Syria who wanted to get out so she don't get blowed up, so I really wanted ta help her. I just don't have anywhare NEAR $2400.00. All a these women needed mAh financial help.

Most a these ladies had college degrees in Business Administration but, as luck would have it, none a them could get a job.  I thought Obama done made thuh economy so good that there was so many jobs that it improved the sitiation all the way thru the Trump aministration.  I don't know how all a them could be without a job. That's how it was, though. All a them women couldn't find a job. That's why they needed me ta do things like send them money ta come see me or send them money ta fix thar cell phones, or buy 'em a gift card so they could call me an’ talk ta me.  One woman's phone camera wouldn't work lessen’ ah sent them a iTunes gift card. Imagine THAT! Them women shore had some mighty strange and mighty powerful problems. I'm over here just a scratchin’ mAh head awonderin’ what ta’ do!

I finally found this here beautiful woman.

She was purtier then a movie star so I wanted to be SURE ta type reel gud ta her.  Boy howdy, it got steamier than granny's still after corn harvest! I finally got her to try to go on cam with me, but this is what happened!

Someone at iTunes must be makin’a fortune holdin’ these purty womens’ cameras hostage like that.  It's a darn shame. How are them purty girls what hasn't got no job supposed to use thar cameras?

Well, anyways, I really wanted to see this purty lady on her webcam, so she musta gotten a iTunes card herself and she turned on her cam 'cause I talked so purty.  And GOOoooOOOLLY, Uncle Al! Lookie what I found!

Well, I thought thar musta been somethin’wrong with her camera still because she shore didn't look like her picture, so I asked what was agoin’ on.  As it turned out, it was these guys all along. They shore did fool me!

Well, tarNATion!  That was a real head scratchin’moment.  I had no idear that this purty white woman coulda been two black men in South Africa!  I guess they must have some a that gender confusion over thar in South Africa or somethin’ fer them to have been so good at actin’ like a purty lady so good.

Well, I got to talkin’ to them an they turned out to be purty nice, except for them a foolin’ me an’ all.  We done struck up a friendship. I got to see his friends an’ whar he lived an’ everything! The only thing I can't figger out is how they done fooled a guy like me with a sixth grade edjucation!

I Must Be a Double Naught Spy!

I'm tellin' you, people.  I must be a Double Naught Spy!  I'm getting friend requests from more beautiful women than you can shake a stick at!  They all want to be my wife, sometimes the first time we chat!  I must really have a way with the ladies!

Thay mostly come from the U-nited States but one a them is from Damascus, Syria.  She's in a Christian refugee camp and she only needs $2400.00 to come and be my wife forever!

She might be the real deal though because she showed me a picture of her baby.

Most a them just want $500.00 for a plane ticket to see me or a gift card so they can talk to me better.  A couple of them have broken cell phones and want me to buy them a new one.  What I can't figger out is how they took a picture of their broken cell phone if they had no other way to talk to me?  Them women is hard ta figger out sometimes.

I don't know how I could be so lucky to git so many beauties to want ta marry me all at once like this, but it's a really head-scratchin' sitiation.  All of 'em is as sweet as candy and American as apple pie.  They don't have no good Grammer like me, though.  I guess you kain't expect everyone to be as good as schoolin' like me.  I done gragiated the sixth grade so you know I'm smart!

I reckon if I have to choose just one, since I'm not a Muslim in a Muslim country or a Mormon in Utah, it would have to be the Christian refugee in Syria.  She might cost a little more, but my Uncle Al always told me, "You get what you pay for."  I just hope that he was right.

Jesus Will Make You Rich?

Joel Osteen and others who preach the “Jesus will make you rich" “gospel" teach that if you aren't getting rich, you aren't living right by Jesus.  What does the Bible say?

Matthew 17:27 King James Version (KJV)
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Hmm, that doesn't sound like someone who's rich.  Repeater in Jesus not living right by Jesus? Of course they were. Why weren't be rich enough to pay the temple tax then? It close that what the preachers were preaching was untrue.

These preachers also preach that if you're having problems in your life that you're not living right by Jesus.  What does the Bible say about that?

Matthew 5:45 King James Version (KJV)
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

And

2 Timothy 3:12-13 King James Version (KJV)
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

It sounds as if these teachers are teaching the exact opposite of what the Bible says.

Matthew 7:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Beware folks.  You may think that you are following a Christian preacher but they may be ravenous wolves.

Socialism Isn't So Great

Socialism Isn't So Great

When some people hear the word socialism, they think of “free stuff," unicorns and rainbows.  I'm about to tell you of the starting reality.

This woman lives in Venezuela.

She is a long-time friend who used to sing on my live show.  She's beautiful and has a beautiful voice. She is sweet and kind.  She also hates socialism.

Relatively recently, her country was taken over by a socialist dictator.  Nicolás Maduro has been limiting electricity to four hours every day or two.  How are you supposed to keep your food refrigerated or your house air conditioned on that?

She said that there have been riots and looting so bad that it's very difficult to get food for her and her child to eat.  She never knows when the four hours of electricity will be so when it's on, she tries to charge her cell phone so that she can contact those of us who knew her on Facebook.  Since I will no longer be on Facebook, I'll have to try to find a way to get word to her that I'm here now.

I hope that things improve for her and all the good people of Venezuela.  I hate to hear of her living in these kind of conditions. I wish that I could help her somehow but I don't have the means.  Please pray for her and Venezuela and remember, socialism isn't so great.

48 Hours Later...

48 Hours Later...

It has been over 48 hours since Facebook banned me and I'm feeling the strain.  I don't know how much longer I can hold out.  It seems like a lifetime since I've been insulted by other Facebook users, been belittled by feminists for being a white male,  been called racist by liberals who had no intelligent response to fact, been called a misogynist for posting something positive about Trump who exposed women for letting him "grab them by the pussy" because he was a star, or any number of other things I have to endure on a daily basis.  I'm a white, Christian male, so I deserve such punishment, after all.  How am I supposed to live without the punishment and abuse?  I NEED Facebook.

No, no.  I must stay strong.  I can't let this get to me.  I've gone without being insulted before.  I know that I can do this.  I don't know how long I'm in the slammer for this time, but if you can't do the time, don't do the crime of speaking the truth.  It's a very unpopular thing to do these days.  Still, I must try.  I'm related to George Washington and I cannot tell a lie.  If I let Uncle George down, he might haunt me.  I... MUST... STAY... STRONG.  I don't know, though.  I'm starting to feel a little liberal, Muslim, and gay.  No, no.   Shake it off, Cal.  There is more at stake here than being accepted by Facebook.

Oh, Fakebook, PLEASE let me back on!

Facebook Is Abusing Me!

Facebook Is Abusing Me

Facebook is abusing me.  That's right.  THEY'RE abusing ME!  I made a post about my doctors in Tomball, who happen to be Muslim, saying that they're scum.  They ARE scum in my book.  Anyone who would deliberately mess up someone's heart and knowingly leave it that way for over 10 years is scum.  I don't care if they're Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Clan of the Holy UFO, or what.  If they deliberately do that to someone, they're scum.  Being Muslim does not free them from being called what they are.  S. C. U. M!  I also found out by talking to other heart patients of these same doctors that they were done the same way.  That makes them TRIPLE SCUM!

Having a doctorate does not excuse someone.  Hell, I went to college longer than they did.  I don't have a degree because my company wouldn't let me off to take the finals.  I had a 4.0, so I would have easily aced the finals, so that's not my fault.  That wouldn't excuse me from doing that to someone either.

I'm sure if I had said, "Some Christian scum doctors" everything would be fine.  Christians tend to forgive things like a random Facebook comment.  Someone at Facebook must have gotten butthurt that someone could call a Muslim doctor, scum.  Now I think that Facebook is scum for being so abusive.  You know what that is?  That's an opinion, just like liberals thinking Donald Trump is scum is an opinion.

People in the U.S. are allowed to have and state such opinions.  Having an opinion isn't the same as making a threat or making false claims, especially when your opinion is supported by fact.  The last I checked, Facebook is headquartered in the U. S.  Did they move their headquarters to the United Arab Emirates overnight?  Let me check.

Nope.  Still in California.  Oh, wait.  That's almost the same as not being in the U.S.  Maybe California seceeded and became part of the United Arab Emirates?  Let me check.

Oh, I see.  Financially, they did.  Here's the link if you want to read it.  https://losangeles.uae-embassy.org/consulate/consulate-news/california-uae-bilateral-trade-exceeds-1-5-billion

So, do financial dealings override the Constitution?  Let's see.

Hmm.  No.  Not yet.

So, why is Facebook abusing me?  Could it be that a moderator is Muslim and took offense?  That might be a possibility.  After all, THIS https://youtu.be/E8Ox6H64yu8 Android became a member of the United Arab Emirates and we all know that Facebook is using AI now.  Happy computing in the age of AI, y'all.

What Did Jesus Say About Marriage?

What Did Jesus Say About Marriage?

What did Jesus say about marriage?  Let's take a look.

Matthew 19:3-12 King James Version (KJV)
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

The Bible also tells us this.

1 Peter 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Now many stop there, and many husband's wish it would, (pause for laughter) but verse 7 goes on and tells us how husbands should treat their wives.

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Now Jesus doesn't want a month to Lord over his wife with an iron fist expecting them to slave to his every wish while he ignores HER needs.  Married couples are to work together. Where one is strong, the other may be weak. If he's not good with numbers, it's okay for the woman to balance the checkbook.  When the wife has to work, it's alright for the husband to cook and clean and even do the laundry. If one of them is sick or injured, the other should step up and carry the load for awhile until the other can heal or recover from an illness.

In spite of what some psychiatrists tell you these days, that's not “co-dependence.”. I'm sure that everyone has heard that made up term by now.  It's how husband and wife are supposed to treat each other. The two are as one, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. That's what makes a good marriage.

I know that many of you have heard me rant about my wifebeing unfaithful.  While that is true, there were many things that we did as man and wife that are painful for me to remember.  We DID work as a team and it was very painful when she was separated from me by death. I had every biblical reason to divorce her and sometimes considered it, especially just before she found out that she had cancer and told me that she was leaving me right after the party was over.  Still, when she got the news, I didn't run and say that I just couldn't handle it. I stayed and did my best to do what I could to help her through it. I took my vows seriously even though she did not.

We are not ready responsible for what our spouse does.  We are held accountable for what WE did. Did WE do what was good and pleasing to God or did we behave in a manner which God told us not to?

Need another example?

Ephesians 5:17-33 King James Version (KJV)
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Now I know that husband's wish that it would stop there again, but it goes on.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Yes, there it is.  That stinky old part about how husbands should treat their wives, but it's there in black and white.

Sometimes my wife and I would bicker and argue and not behave as we were told that we should in a marriage.  My wife was not a Christian and she denied that she believed in Jesus to her grave. I knew that she would be completely healed if she could believe strongly enough.  It had happened for me more than once, so I tried to get her to believe one last time so that I would see her in heaven. Alas, it was useless. Still, she defended me to her family even though she was dying.  Perhaps that was enough? I don't know. I sometimes hope that I will see her again, just not looking down her in the pit of hell.

Those of you who are Christian and have Christian spouses should know better.  You should know how to treat one another. If you don't, familiarize yourself with these verses then ask yourself again, “Am I treating my spouse the way that God wants me to?”  Listen to what the voice inside tells you. Sometimes it might not be what we want to hear, but you need to listen to that voice.

Oh, I almost left out all of the reasons that Jesus gave for acceptably divorcing your spouse.  Here IT is. It may not seem fair, but God knows better than we do.

Mark 10:2-12 King James Version (KJV)
2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.

11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

So, if you love Jesus and want to serve the Lord as Christ loved the church, you must become one, help one another, and the wife must ohey her husband even if he's not Christian, and the husband must love and sacrifice for the wife as Christ loved and sacrificed for the church.

Have a blessed weekend.