Knowledge

  Knowledge…I hate to do it again, but I am about to quote Webster’s dictionary. “Knowledge: the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association; acquaintance with or understanding of a science, art, or technique.” Everyone yearns for knowledge in some way, shape or form. We have all heard the saying that “knowledge is power” or that someone has a “wealth of knowledge” but I say “knowledge isn’t anything without action.”


   Knowledge isn’t worth one red cent without action. Knowledge also needs tools and resources. Knowledge cannot stand alone and make a difference or achieve results. What good is medical knowledge to a brain surgeon if he doesn’t have the tools to perform surgery? No lives are saved simply by his knowledge; instead, he needs his hands and his surgical tools to perform the surgery. A shipbuilder can’t save himself on a deserted island if he has no supplies with which to build. What good is a box of tools if there is no wood to form his craft?

    It seems to me that the youth of our country are facing this reality today. Even with the knowledge that comes through earning a college degree, they still are lacking the tools and resources to make it in today’s world. Without the proper upbringing and morals that a parent should give their children, they will never reach their goals. Today’s society is doing their children an injustice by sending them out into the world without all of the tools they need to make it in the world today. Many parents of yesterday could only dream of sending their children to college, so instead, they gave them a strong work ethic and the moral compass needed to make it in the world. On the opposite end, today’s parents have many resources to financially aid them in sending their children to school, but they lack the drive to be proper parents. It seems that parents would rather be friends to their children than give them the “knowledge” they will need to survive. Just having an education alone, (knowledge??), will not get you through life. You need action, the drive to put your knowledge to use, to excel.

   I hope that we, as a society, can stop this new fad of being our child’s friend and take on the task of being their parent. No amount of reading and writing can substitute for the life knowledge we can share with our children. They depend on us as parents, to show them right from wrong and set an example for them to live by. We need to give our children the knowledge AND the tools they will need to make it in today’s world.

N-O-R-M-A-L

Normal


What is NORMAL? Well, I have always thought that society tends to set the norm for everyone. It seems that whatever the majority of the population is doing becomes the “accepted norm”. For example, a hundred years ago it was “normal” for women to be married and bear children around the age of 14 or 15 years of age. On the other hand, today, we persecute men who have relations with women under the age of 18. So, we can safely say that it is now “normal” for women to wait until they reach the age of 18 to marry and have children.

During biblical times, it was normal and even unavoidable that people would reproduce with members of their own family. Today, this is considered a crime and anything but normal. Having sex with underage women and participating in incestuous relationships is quite the opposite of what our society would accept today.

On the opposite side of things, what is becoming normal in today’s world is very scary to me. As we have already established, the masses or majority tend to dictate the “acceptable norm.” Today’s masses are molding a world that looks out for gay rights. (Not “normal” in my world, my bible, or my nature). Society is accepting slackers and moochers into their economic system. They allow a government to institute laws that protect and tolerate gays and underachievers. We have multiple government programs that dish out free housing, free food, free healthcare, and even free money to citizens that don’t work. The whole time, we ask those with strong work ethics and good morals to take care of and tolerate the ones that don’t follow the norm. I do not condone a society where this is to be accepted as normal.

Just as I know what is right and what is wrong, I also know that these new “norms” need to be stopped. We do not need new laws telling us that these are now “normal” behaviors. Have you ever seen a dog steal a piece of meat from another dog? He will cower down and drop his ears back as he retreats with his spoils. That dog has never read the Ten Commandments, but he still knows that it is not “normal” to steal. There was a time when the thieves of our society would be ashamed of their actions too. Sadly, it is becoming “normal” for them to do wrong and live wrong with their chest stuck out demanding that they be respected. I refuse to teach my children these “new norms” and if you feel the same way, consider yourself NORMAL.

Hang 'em High

Lately, as I read the daily paper, I cannot avoid the harsh criticism that our troops are given over civilian casualties in the War on Terror. Well world, get over it. This is WAR we are talking about. Collateral damage is something that is unavoidable. Sure, it would be nice if we could get “the enemy” to show up on an open, unoccupied field, and have a gentleman’s duel with us to settle our disputes, but we all know that isn’t going to happen. I don’t think that there has ever been a war in history that didn’t have innocent casualties credited to it.


Even God himself is not above taking out some of the innocent to prove a point. Look at the story of Noah. God flooded the world, killing ALL men, women, children, and animals to rid the planet of sinners. Are you so naïve as to think that ALL of the people were sinners? Are we to believe that all the children were sinners? What about the infants? How about all the animals? Yeah, he took out all of them with the flood that was meant for the sinners.

Again, in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, he destroyed a whole town to rid us of evildoers. Surely there were babies and non-sinners in the town. He even punished Lot’s wife just for looking back. Pretty harsh stuff here folks. After reading these stories about our Maker’s actions, I am sure that society is overreacting to civilian casualties.

Of course we want to keep them to a minimum, but it IS something that is inevitable. Why doesn’t the press concentrate more on the REASON we are at war? If our enemies government is concerned for their people, then maybe they should avoid war altogether. I do not feel it is appropriate for our troops to fight a war with their hands tied. While our soldiers are out in the open, these cowards hide in residential neighborhoods, schools, and holy places of worship. I say “so be it then, take ‘em out.” We need to stop crucifying our troops and send a message to the enemy that there is NO PLACE that you can hide. Do you think that our enemies would be so considerate if the battle was fought on our turf? I don’t need to remind anyone of the thousands of civilians who were killed during Pearl Harbor, The Twin Towers attacks, the Pentagon attacks, the London train bombings, etc… Wake up world, we need to give what we get if we ever plan on winning this war

Pitiful Prisons

  PRISON. The difference between prison and jail is simply, prisons are made to house people who have been convicted of a crime and have long terms to serve, while a jail is for people awaiting trial and people who have been convicted that have shorter terms to serve. So, contrary to what prisoners will say, EVERYONE in prison has been convicted of a crime.


  With this, I would like to share a few things with you that the general public may not know about prison life. Did you know?

• In most prisons, the prisoners are allowed to play basketball

• Prisoners are allowed to lift weights

• If they follow rules accordingly, and end up housed in minimum security, they are allowed TV sets in their rooms and some are even allow DVD players

• The prisons are climate controlled. Heat and air conditioning

• They do not have to work if they do not want to. It is  a priveledge

• They receive free healthcare

• They receive free dental care

Now I am not 100% sure, but after finding out these facts, my son may rather go to prison than be grounded for his bad report card. Let’s see why in a comparison.

• If he is grounded, there are no outside sports activities that he is allowed to participate in.

• He is not allowed to work-out in our garage. (Which I am sure is not nearly as nice and equipped as the prison gym).

• He is not allowed to watch TV in his room either.

• He does however get the luxury of climate control as it affects the rest of the family

• He must continue to pull his weight around the house and complete his chores

• He continues receiving free healthcare as this would just dig further into my pocketbook 

• He continues to receive free dental care. Same reasoning as above

  So there you have it folks. If you go to prison you will receive more benefits than if you bring home a bad report card. Kind of silly isn’t it? Why don’t we demand that our prisons be run as a form of punishment and a deterrent to career criminals. It won’t kill them to sleep in non-climate controlled prisons. Our troops live in tents in the 120 degree heat of the desert while being shot at. They stay there for years on end. Our troops don’t have the luxury of “not working” if they don’t feel like it. Who should we be taking care of; criminals? or the people fighting wars and sacrificing their lives for us? If my idea of prison sounds like a bad place to be, GOOD. Don’t screw up or you may find yourself living there, repenting, and being remorseful for your actions; the way that prisoners are supposed to live.

Our America

   Many, many moons ago….in a far far away land, there was a great country the people called “The United States of America”. This country was the most powerful country in the world, feared by all who would do evil and respected by all who fought for good. This was a land where brave men and women went that wanted more out of life. These were not the kind of people who were lazy or cowards, they were the kind of people that blazed their own path and didn’t take “no” for an answer.

   As they started their new country, others took notice of the bravery and determination of these pioneers. Over the years, the world saw that it was to their advantage to stay on the good side of these determined souls. They watched as evil empire after evil empire fell to the great armies of the Americans. This country grew to encompass land from coast to coast on its new continent. Many tried in vain to topple the superpower, while others took notice of the Americans superiority and created alliances with them. For over two hundred years the Americans defeated the likes of Germany, Japan, Mexico, Italy and countless internal enemies of the country.

   As the Americans honed their military skills, numerous industrial firsts were introduced to the world from its citizens. Self pride and a strong moral compass kept the country in line and helped turn out world leaders of unequaled character. Many “firsts” were awarded to Americans throughout history; the first man on the moon, medical breakthroughs, humanitarian aid, and military conquests were all what made this country great.

   I know what you are probably thinking, “Enough with the history lesson”. Right? Well, I would hope that you are thinking “How did this great country fall to its weak existence of today?” We the People have the ability to turn this thing around. Let’s tell our career politicians that we are unhappy with them and that they better change or suffer the consequences. This country was founded by men who were leaders, not followers. If Washington doesn’t believe that we can take control of this country, all they need to do is read their history books.

It's Just Natural

  My father had a saying he would repeatedly tell me as a teenager; “Men don’t let other men support them”. Dad had a way of explaining that if you want to be a “man” then you have to act the part. You don’t let other men take care of you, work for you, think for you, or even suffer the consequences of your actions. Sure, people need help from time to time, but that is not what he was addressing here.


  As a youth I had a hard time understanding what he meant. There were many kids at school that had cars bought for them, didn’t need after school jobs, and had all the material things that a teenager could dream of. Whenever I made my case as to why my father should pay my way for everything I wanted, he would retort with his quote. As most teen boys will inevitably feel, I wanted the world to see me as a “man” instead of a teenage kid. Now I am not saying that Dad didn’t provide for us. We had, what I now consider, a very comfortable, middle class way of life.

  When I reached the age of 18 years, I knew, somehow, that this would prove my father’s quote wrong, as I was now an “adult” according to law. You see, I still did not know that there was a HUGE difference in being a “legal” adult and being a man. I would flaunt the fact that I had new freedoms, in the eyes of the law to my father, and still, I did not get the respect and “status” with him that I thought I deserved. In his eyes, (and in reality), I hadn’t done anything to warrant being a man, i was still a kid. I was still suckling off of someone’s tit in the world. I had moved out of the house by this time, but still wasn’t very responsible and needed much help bailing myself out of the messes I created. But I quickly forgot those who helped me out of my jams and continued the cycle of needing help. Then, somewhere between getting married, having a son, working construction seven days a week for years, and trying to provide for my new family, it hit me. I was finally taking the steps needed to be a man. I had become a scaled down version of my father and other men in our country. I wasn’t a leach on the system, I didn’t ask for anyone to pull my wagon, I was proud of the things that I had accomplished for myself. Deep inside, it wasn’t really the material things that mattered to me. I truly looked up to my father. He was, and still is, a great man in my eyes. My eyes had been opened as to what was really bugging me. All these years I was actually WANTING to validate his quote and be a “man” in HIS EYES. I can honestly say that this was my driving force through most of my life. I know that deep inside, my father’s values are still controlling my decisions as an adult.

  I am now faced with the task of trying to relay to my THREE teenage children, these values that my father instilled in me. I tell them that I will gladly support them as long as they live here, but that by taking from my rewards and not going out to earn their own, they will still be “children”, with a child’s freedoms, in my eyes. If they want the respect that I give other men, and the freedoms that come with them, they will need to go out into the world and support themselves. It is the NATURAL WAY. It is unnatural for a lion to stay with his father’s pride, it is unnatural for a bear cub to trail his mother for life, and it is unnatural for a man to support another man.

  I wish Obama’s father would have sat him down and had this speech with him. Maybe then, he would see the wrong he is doing with his “redistribution” of wealth campaign. It is UNNATURAL!

Magic Money??

   As we sit back and watch the Senate scurry to get a second-rate Health-Care Bill passed, I cannot help but cringe when I hear Nancy Pelosi downplay the fact that it is estimated to cost the American people a little over ONE TRILLION DOLLARS. I am not sure that our citizens realize how massive a number one trillion is. If we sat each person down and showed them examples of the magnitude of one trillion, I feel that this bill would surely cause another revolution.


   I know many others have tried to make us see the size of this number, but I have a few comparisons that I feel will expose this number for what it really is. In 2007 the Census Bureau reported the average American’s salary to be $50,233.00. At this pay you would need to work for over 19,907,232 (YEP, that’s 19 million) years to make a trillion dollars. But that representation isn’t really fair, as it implies that the debt would be paid by one person, so I give you this; there are approximately 308,499,000 U.S. citizens. Using this number, each of us will only need to work 3241 years to collectively make ONE TRILLION dollars. That sounds better. All I need to do is ask God to let me live three and a half times longer than Noah (969), so I can help pay for the new Health-Care Bill.

   Surely God will not allow all of us to live for 3241 years, so we will inevitably pass the debt on to future generations. But how many generations will it take to pay for this new bill. Well, Wikipedia tells us that the length of a generation in 2007 was 25.2 years. Using those numbers, our glimmer of hope fades even more. You see, we are talking about 128 future generations of Americans working their whole life to be able to pay for this trillion dollars. 128 generations ago was approximately 1241 years before Christ.

   If all of these numbers sound absurd to you then you need to give yourself a “pat on the back”, because you, my friend, have retained your sanity. This massive debt that Obama is instituting on this country’s people is absurd. As ridiculous as all of these figures seem, Obama thinks that you and I are so stupid that we can’t figure out that this debt will never get repaid. This is a bill that is filled with lies and deceit. Maybe this man is the messiah; he seems to have an eternity already planned for me. An eternity of WORK.