A Midwinter Night in Clayton

(This is the unedited version of the article that was published in the Clayton Patch on February 8, 2011.)

This past Saturday night you may have noticed that the weather was more like a midsummer night's dream. Warm and clear, it seemed as though we were being charmed by this sublime event.

On this night, our daughter Stephanie is having her friend Natalie for a sleep over. For dinner, we decided to go out for pizza. As we left the house bound for Skipolini’s, I took note of the temperature, 70 degrees!

What Do You Mean I Have an Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area!

(This is the unedited version of the article that was published in the Clayton Patch on January 26, 2011.)

About six months ago, I stood inside the Clayton Safeway starring at the large newly arrived wooden crates. Staged next to the Starbucks kiosk, I was filled with both anticipation and anxiety as the installation crew began revealing their contents. I knew what was in them because I had asked about a week earlier.

Self check out had arrived at our local grocery store in Clayton.

The Season of Change

We are visiting my mother-in-law for her birthday. My daughter asks me all morning for a trip to the park. Curiously, I am interested in the park this day; I am compelled to get some fresh air, to see…to see the sky, the trees, and the clouds, to smell the day. The seemingly bleak autumn morning beckons me like an old friend from long ago…“let’s go out and play!” I think, perhaps, I might create some cool images of her playing. I gather my camera and a second lens. My daughter changes her clothes …twice.

THE NEW GENERATION OF SIGN-SPINNERS

Is it just me or is this the just plain ridiculous?

THE NEW GENERATION OF SIGN-SPINNERS

On Seeing Moon Shine

This short poem was inspired by a liminal moment experienced while driving home after midnight on May 27, 2010. I struggled for several days trying to get it to make sense for me; that is, to make the words express what I felt and saw that night. On the 30th I heard from the book of Proverbs (8:22) and the whole thing suddenly came into specific relief. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Most of all though, I hope it reaches you with the vision I experienced that night. And, that these words give you reason to pause and reflect. Blessings.

Pelosi Gives the Word

Did you know that Nancy Pelosi practices her public policy consistent with her faith? I didn’t, until now. According to this article, the Speaker of the House’s favorite word is “The Word” made flesh, aka Jesus Christ.

I can not believe that so many Americans fall for this kind of dishonestly. Too many of us actually believe these lies. I also believe that many people know it to be totally dishonest and corrupt but will not turn from it because they have too much ego invested in it.

Does anybody else find this to just plain bizarre.

Click HERE for the full story

UK Man Not Charged in Assisted Suicide Death of His Wife

Western Culture is built upon compassion and respect for life, among other good things. This article is evidence of how that is all slipping away and there will be consequences if we do not deal with this. Excerpts from the article:

Prosecutor: “It was also clear that Mr. Bateman was wholly motivated by compassion.”

“We are becoming a society where the assessment of your quality of life hinges on what you can do, rather than respect for life itself.” – Mike Judge of the Christian Institute.

Click HERE for the story.

Pure Form Of Heroin Hitting Our Streets = Deaths

We have seen this before. Drug suppliers are letting a very pure form of heroin slip into the supply resulting in many overdose deaths. In my experience, this is sometimes the result of some Machiavellian scheme between drug lords or even nations in conflict. The result is that innocent people are killed. It is true that the victims are themselves committing a crime. However, their crime is one of self indulgence. It is true that they often resort to other crimes to finance their habit but they are still victims of murder. The intention behind letting the purer form of this illegal substance out is to produce deaths.

We should pray that those who are responsible for this act of murder are brought to justice and for an end to this madness. Then pray for those who are slaves to addiction may find help and salvation.

Click HERE for the story.

South Korea On Alert

It looks like North Korea actually did torpedo that South Korean ship last month. I can not imagine what the North Koreans are thinking. Now things are really heating up. Let us pray that this does not get out of hand and that the north’s evil regime is peacefully swept aside in favor of liberty.
Click on the image or HERE for the story.


Related stories

US plans naval exercises with South Korea: Pentagon

Clinton: Koreas security situation 'precarious'

Two Koreas snarl at each other, tensions rise

Mojave Cross Stolen After Supreme Court Victory

Christianity is under assault; this is evidence of that.


The removal of this cross probably has much deeper motivations than simply “vandalism.” I think anyone who has followed this story would have a hard time thinking otherwise.



Click on HERE or on the image for the full story.

Zombies Above Us

Did you know that there are Zombies overhead at this very moment? Zombie Satellites that is; they call them “ZombieSats”. See the paragraph near the middle of the article. They’re dead but still moving about. Somebody could make a video game where we get to blow them out of the sky.  Seriously, we could call it, “Left ‘in Orbit’ 4 Dead.” We could call the sequel, “Debris Rain of the Dead.”

Click HERE or on the image for the full story.

More Spying

The Brits, working with an American company, are working on a satellite that can track your “average” speed in your vehicle as go about you business.

If this kind of stuff does not scare you, you are too far gone.

Click HERE or on the image for the full story.

The Washington Monument

This is a wonderful article that explains why our government is completely out of touch with its people. The problem is not that they do not understand; it’s that they can not understand. The article explains why.  Listed below are two excerpts from the article:

“But perhaps the most unremarked thing about the Tea Parties is that they’re not calling for a repeal of the Constitution but for its enforcement. They are the complete opposite of what Clinton thinks they are; an affirmation, not a call to create “a different country” that Clinton congratulates himself in attaining.”

“Yet politicians can’t see it. For perfectly natural reasons they fall into the habit of thinking everyone is a supplicant.”

The author quotes from J.R. Tolkiens, “Lord of the Rings” to help one understand the power that "power itself" has over those who rule.

“For he is very wise, and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of his malice. But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into his heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it, that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it. If we seek this, we shall put him out of reckoning.”

Click below for the full article


The Washington Monument

An Osprey Snagging a Trout

This is a great photo. Love this.

Click HERE or on the image for the source story.

One Small Step For A Man is Now A Giant Step Backward For Our Nation

Old Neil Armstrong and some the early astronauts speak out on Obama’s decision to nix the Constellation program. No Constellation means no way for us to get into orbit, which puts us stuck in the 60’s.

Click on the link below for the source story.

Armstrong: Obama hurting space - PATRICK GAVIN POLITICO CLICK

See a related story in my blog by clicking HERE