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.

I Met the Woman of My Dreams! Part 2

I Met the Woman of My Dreams!  Part 2

While she was gone, I decided to ride the escalators some more.  I really do like to ride escalators.  They're like a mechanical marvel from a time gone by.  I stepped on to one and got to the next level when the man she was promised to started screaming at me and reached for his saber.  I waved my finger at him and said, "No, no, no.  Not in the U.S.". He groaned in disgust and anger and started attacking me.  We fought for a short while without either of us really landing any blows and I stepped back.

"Wait.  I don't want to kill you.  Perhaps we could be friends?  I have a high position in mind for you."

He stopped fighting and seemed to be considering it, but I knew that it wasn't over by the look in his eyes.  I would be expecting the unexpected.

I walked over to another escalator going down and turned left.  I saw her crouched in the shadow between two escalators.  She looked a little disheveled and wasn't wearing any makeup or jewelry.  I wondered if she had been beaten, but both of our eyes lit up.  We ran to each other and hugged.  She spoke.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too.  You are so beautiful."

"Even without my jewelry and makeup?"

"Yes.  Your heart far outshines them."

She giggled a little and we walked arm in arm around the floor.  An idea came to me.

"I know a place where we can be alone."

"You do?"

"Yes, but it's not very fancy."

"Let's go."

I led her to the luggage escalator.

"We have to ride down here."

"But..."

I grabbed her arm and away we went.

The luggage escalator was carpeted, I suppose to prevent damage to the luggage, and it had raised bumps about every foot, I suppose to keep luggage from sliding.  We went down a couple of luggage escalators after going through the turns on each floor and finally reached the belt where the luggage landed to go out to the airplanes.  We stepped on to the floor.  She looked upset.

"You would bring me here?"

"Yes.  We're alone, aren't we?"

A look of calm came over her face and she rushed toward me, grabbing me and embracing me firmly.  We kissed and this time she let my tongue in.  She was so perfect.  She was, after all, truly the woman of my dreams... or is that IN my dreams?

I started to discuss with her how we could change her country to be more U.S. friendly.  I was concerned that the citizens wouldn't take to kindly to an American ruling their country.  I even suggested appointing the man she was to wed to appease him.  She seemed to think that would be a great idea.

Before we could have much of a discussion, we rounded the corner by an "Up" escalator and we're met by two guards weilding scimitars.  She motioned to them to stop.

"But my queen, your husband to be sent us to capture this heathen."

"Let him go.  I will not wed that power hungry moron.  Come.  We must prepare for the next seminar."

She and I went our separate ways.  I went up an escalator and saw the two guards grab the woman whose name I still did not know on the down escalator.  I did NOT like the woman I loved being manhandled by two guards, so I jumped into action.

I parkoured over the escalator kicking the first guard squarely in the face.  I thin hit the second guard under the back of the chin right at the third vertebrae.  He went crumbling to the ground.  I grabbed her hand and said, "Let's get out of here!"

We ran the opposite way on the escalator then quickly grabbed another one.  We got to the floor with the door with two columns.

"I really must get ready for the seminar."

She kissed me and ran behind the closed doors.

I figured that I had some time on my hands, so I set out once again to find the lobby.
I found a sloped, curved, carpeted ramp leading to the floor below.  Realizing that I had leather soles, I decided to try to slide down the blue carpeted wide ramp.  I extended my soul a couple inches below my body and found that I could move rather fast.  When I got close to the wall, I put my legs apart and went into a half-squat to alter my direction.  It was fun.  It was something I would do in real life if I had the chance.

I reached the next floor and looked around for the lobby, but I didn't see it.  I walked up to a woman and asked if she knew where the lobby was.

"I'm not sure but I think it's right down the hall there."

She pointed and I started walking.

 seemed like I walked forever.  I finally got to the front desk which was on the left.  I stepped up to the desk.  A clerk spoke.

"May I help you?"

"Yes sir.  I seem to have forgotten my..."

I suddenly realized that I had forgotten what I came down there to ask him.  I guess I have dementia in my dreams, too.

"Never mind."

"Yes sir.  I'm here if you need any help."

I turned around and started walking back toward the escalators.

I finally reached an up escalator and got on.  A man approached me from the back.  He was a thin, somewhat seedy looking Muslim wearing a red turban.  He put his hand on my shoulder.

"I saw your fight with the guards.  That was really good."

"Thanks."

We got off of the elevator and I felt that there was something strange about the incident.  I checked my left coat pocket and found the watch which the queen had been eyeing.  I wondered whether he was a friend of the queen and wanted to help me or whether he was a friend of her promised husband who wanted to set me up.  I really wanted to give it to the queen to make her happy, but she knew that I couldn't afford something like that.  I decided to tell her what happened, show it to her, and see what she said.

~ More another day.

I Met the Woman of my Dreams!

I met the woman of my dreams!

I had a wonderful dream from which I didn't want to wake up.  I met the woman of my dreams.  She was slim, had long, blonde hair, and was wearing a very thick, gold necklace that seemed to match the beautiful golden color of her hair. 

I was in my old Armani suit walking through a hotel where I was staying with my family.  I was the age I am now.  I was looking for a woman, any woman, with whom I instended to spend the evening.  I saw a beautiful brunette, but she pawned her mother off on me.  I walked with the mother and talked with her and she seemed pretty nice, so I asked for her phone number, got it, and stuffed it in my outer coat pocket.  She went back to her room to get ready for some big Muslim ceremony that they were having in the hotel, so I continued my journey.  There were many Muslims in the hotel, some with turbans.  I didn't pay too much attention to it.

I ran into this beautiful blonde with light skin.  I was on the up escalator and she was on the down escalator.  Our eyes met and there was an overwhelming feeling that she was the one.  We kissed as the escalators passed each  other and I quickly moved my feet  to make the kiss last for as long as possible as did she.  I hurried up the escalator and back down the down escalator and she had waited for me.  We embraced one another and had a much longer kiss.  We we're in front of a jewelry shop where watches were on display on top of a glass case.  I wanted to stop and see how much a Rolex was these days so we stopped.  She grabbed a rather large Seiko and handed it to me.  I said, "Thank you, but that's a Seiko.  I wanted to see a Rolex."

"I had a Seiko and it was a very good watch."

"That's good, but that hasn't been my experience."

I found a Rolex which was in the display in a plastic Ziploc style bag.  I removed it from the display and looked at it.  Before I noticed the price of the watch, I noticed her walking toward the other end of the display where they had womens watches.  I saw that she was making a fuss about a watch that had a digital display.  I walked up by her side and was going to take off my Timex and show her the digital display.  I was going to give it to her, but when I pulled back my sleeve, I noticed that my watch had been replaced with a mechanical watch with a way too big face.  The band appeared to be a dog leash which had been tied to my wrist.  I figured it was the friend of my nephew who had been playing at the house before we left to the hotel.  I explained what happened and we hugged.  I noticed that I was starting to have feelings for this strange, beautiful woman.  We left the jewelry display and started walking toward a store that was in the hotel.

We started talking and we both fell deeper and deeper in love with each other.  Just before we got to the store (this was a REALLY swanky hotel) she stopped suddenly.  I turned to her to find out what was wrong.

"Did you just steal that watch?"

"Oh, no.  I can't afford a watch like this.  I have to take it back.  I just got so involved with talking to you that I forgot that I still had it."
I turned around and started walking back with her with my arm around her waist.  We got to the jewelry store where I put the watch back.  She looked at me longingly with those beautiful eyes, kissed me, and said, "I must get back.  It's almost time for the ceremony.  I HAVE to be there."

"Must you?"

"Yes, I must!"

She dashed off and I followed.  She looked back.
"No, you mustn't."

I didn't say anything, but I followed her about twenty feet behind.  We we're going up the escalator.  When she got off, she ran through a door that had a column on each side.  Two men in turbans stepped out armed with sabers.  I non-chalantly walked past so I could get a peek into the lobby, hoping to catch another glimpse of her.  I didn't see her, so I figured that they had gone into a special corridor.  I must have fallen in love with a Saudi Arabian of some importance.  I didn't expect that since she had white skin and blonde hair.  I kept thinking that over as I decided to make my way back to my room.
I got on the down escalator and started to make my way back down to my floor.  Actually, there were a number of up and down escalators to accommodate the traffic in a hotel that large.  There were elevators too, but I wanted to take in the scenery and continue to mull over the details of the woman that I had just met.

I had just gotten down the third escalator when I realized that I didn't know what my room number was.  I reached in my pocket and realized that I had left my cell phone in my room.
I rode up and down some escalators trying to find and remember the floor and the way back to the room when I realized that I could go to the lobby and get my room number.
I stepped on to a rather strange looking escalator which took me down to a luggage area.  It was empty except for a couple of suitcases, so I walked to an up escalator trying to get back up to the floor from which I came.  I went up escalators and down escalators, but each escalator seemed to go to a different part of the building.  I finally got close to the floor where I had originated when I saw her again.  She was arguing with someone about me. 

"He WILL come back for me!  I know it!"

"Forget him child.  You are engaged to be married to me, a Muslim from your country."

"He will come for me.  I KNOW it!  He will make a great president!"

I felt a wave of calm come over me because I didn't want to be a king.  I left over the rails and landed near her.  I fought my way up to her but was confronted by two bodyguards.
"I have to talk to her."

I quickly squeezed between the two bodyguards and stood in front of her.  She grabbed me and said, "I knew you would come.  I love you."

I asked if we could talk in private for a few minutes.  The man behind her was very angry.  I spoke to her.

"I love you too."

A voice came from behind her.

"This will not BE!"

"It WILL be.  Love conquers all."

"Yeah, yeah."

He went back up an escalator and we were alone for a minute.

"Honey, you know that I'm poor."

"But you have such fine clothes."

"Those were from when I USED to have any money.  This is America.  You can go from rags to riches and right back to rags."

"When you get back to my country, you will make a great president.  You will make a great president."

I thought about how I felt about going to her country and what changes I could make to help bring their country up to date and make peace with the U.S.  I thought that having an American president might help.

"I do want to be with you.  Love will find a way."

I knew that she wouldn't be happy living in a one bedroom apartment... especially one for the elderly, but that was all I could afford here.  She spoke.

"I must leave for a moment."

I knew she would be back.


...More tomorrow, God willing.

* Note: I lost some lines because of the highlighting feature on my cell phone which is very sensitive.