News Flash!

This is an imitation of a news flash from Edgar R. Murrow, a famous newscaster from the 30s and 40's. Try to imagine it anyway. “This is South Carolina! My sources just gave me the rundown on a certain young couple that seems to be marinating over their future together. Their names will remain anonymous since I don't have all the facts.  Seems like the young man is already head over heals for her constant energy, sincere positive attitude and consistent spiritual development. Considering my sources that haven’t been reliable in the past, this information deserves a more critical view. I've heard that the young couple’s mantra is, ‘Take it one day at a time’. Not much to go on that, folks. Further details to follow in months to come. This is Edgar R. Murrow signing off.  Good night and good luck.”

Republican Voter Registration Fraud?

Allegedly.  Say it isn’t so?  Especially, not in Florida!  The same place some said that the 2000 Presidential Election was stolen because of the Chad counts.  Remember the controversial acts of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) in 2008?  Obama was running for President.   The Republicans demanded that all federal funding be withdrawn due to ACORN's widespread voter registration fraud.  Of course they tried to connect Obama to it but that didn’t work.  Negative publicity was brought in by James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles, two conservative activists, playing pimp and prostitute secretly recorded and videotaped conversations with some ACORN employees that was portrayed as criminal activity.  The Government Accounting Office cleared the employees and the federal funding was managed appropriated, but it was too late.  The deception and selective editing of the tapes was so damaging that ACORN had shut down by 2010.  Hence, the beginning of the Voter ID movement. Now the Republicans are doing the same thing and they weren’t set up!  Nathan Sproul, who runs the GOP consulting firm in Florida, said, "No matter what quality controls you have there are always going to be bad actors in any large scale operation."   A few bad apples?    ACORN was not any different, wait a minute, yes they were.  You know the answer.

How Well Are You Sowing Your Garden?

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12,” For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  It’s hard to remember this when you’re in the middle of a heated argument trying to prove your point.  We get overwhelmed such that we become blind to the person in front of us.  The person I see in front of me is the flesh I’m arguing with but it is also the same person I fell in love with.  Doubt and fear allowed negativity to enter into our love.  Evil divided what we had.  I believe strife can be avoided if you really try. The question is commitment.  Who are we committed to?  To ourselves or to our relationships?  Paul also said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.“  Relationships are what we make of them.  I compare them to gardening.  Some people are able to cultivate theirs into healthy gardens.  They sow their seeds in the right location with the right lighting, patiently nurturing them, spending time with them, and guiding them as they grow.  They keep them watered and clip away weeds that will choke them.  An apple tree by name is just a tree until it produces apples.  There are some people that are jealous of how well your garden is but they could have taken the time to take care of their own.  Not many opportunities come along that we can get a second chance.  And if an opportunity does come around, take it, and consider it a blessing.  Take time for the one you love, sow your seeds with divine grace, water it with the Holy Spirit, and keep your love in the light of God’s Precious Love.

I'm Gonna Be Ready - Yolanda Adams

A fresh Spring Breeze started my day off with this song! Thank God for April in the Fall!  Prepare my mind and prepare my heart for your blessing, O Lord!  You know what's best for me!!!

Optimize the Positive and Explore the Possibilities!!

Have you ever taken that leap of faith, stepping out of your comfort zone, and risking it all on something you never tried?  Has fear ever held you back from something that you wanted to do but was afraid of failing?  Did being afraid of being rejected, unaccepted, and unworthy make you stay back from being blessed?  We’ve all been there and most of would rather stay where we are in life.  Our relationships and friendships failed and disappointed us.  The scars left more than deep reminders, they changed our lives and our views of people and the world.  We believed that we failed.  It didn’t matter if we accumulated a lot of material stuff to prove that we accomplished our goals, many people still aren’t happy.  Negativity shut us down and we began to draw and associate that kind of mess around us.  When we look back, we mostly see the bad that happened to us and forget that a lot of good things happened, too!  We didn’t seem to learn much from it to move forward. Well, pick yourselves up!  We dwelt in the valley long enough.  It’s time to forgive and forget and climb the mountain!  It’s not easy to forgive and climb.  We can write a book on how bad our lives have been, but I’d rather write about where we can be!  We got to accentuate the positive and fight the negative spirits.  How do we do it?  We go before the throne boldly and ask in faith for help.  We make the most of what we got!  I’ve rejected my blessings long enough.  I’m going to take that chance.  I won’t rush blindly into it but I sure will give it my best!  We’ll see where this new path will take me.  I wish you all the same positive adventure!  We’ll pray for each other in the process.

Just To Keep You Satisfied - Marvin Gaye

Sunday was Fantastic and I Found Spring in the Fall! On The Elevator Ride That Changed My Life!

This past Sunday morning, September 23, 2012, I picked up my Godmother so that we can go to Mass together. We had lunch afterwards.  I needed to talk to her for advice and the changes I made in my life.  We had a great conversation and I did get some excellent advice that only wisdom and experience can offer.  After lunch we went for a ride through the city and looked at the sights.  It was a wonderful time.  My Godmother is in her 90s and she gets around better than a lot of younger folks.  My blessing is that she’s been a part of my life ever since I was a child. I had learned some accurate philosophies from her that still stands true to this day.  She is now the matriarch in my world.  We spent the better part of the day together and after I got her back home, I headed for the elevator when a young lady asked if I was going down.  I won’t go into the details but April & I talked in the parking lot for almost 2 ½ hours!  She was visiting an elderly uncle in the same building!  What I found interesting and stimulating was how positive and enthusiastic she was.  I was struck at the end of our conversation with her well defined explanation of how a marriage should be when built on a true relationship with God.  Bottom line, I was impressed, I learned a lot from April.  Yes, Sunday was filled with memories, opportunities and thought-provoking concepts.  It was a wonderful day!  Thank you, Lord!

Jon Stewart - The Daily Show!!

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This is What The Candidate Said…Back in 1998!

Since the candidate Obama spoke about redistribution, in 1998, Mitt and FOX News can withhold a few words to get the conversation to their level of greed and deceit. I guess they prefer to fool American people in believing that two wrongs can make it right. 

Candidate Obama said: "I think the trick is figuring out how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution because I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody's got a shot. How do we pool resources at the same time as we decentralize delivery systems in ways that both foster competition, can work in the marketplace, and can foster innovation at the local level and can be tailored to particular communities".

Interesting to hear that he said everybody's got a shot, an opportunity to contribute to the greater good! You won't hear that part on FAUX News, the unfair and bias news network. That would be nice to see community pride besides the Hamptons and other playgrounds for the rich and famous. Don't get me wrong, I'm not angry with them at all. They earned what they got, just allow others an equal chance instead of putting roadblocks in the way. I suppose if they would block the President of the United States, common folks don't have a chance.



This Is What Romney Said in May, 2012!

The question doesn't just stop at, who will lead us to a better United States, but who will be the President for all of the people!  Mitt in a secret fundraiser had a lot to say about the people in America that doesn't live the way he does.  We all do not have the same opportunities, but that doesn't make us bad people.  We struggle to put roofs over our heads and provide for our families, too!  Many of us just don't have the benefit of having large inheritances left from someone who had others to help build their wealth.  Somebody had to buy their products and somebody had to make them.  Anyway...

An excerpt from Mr. Romney:  "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. And I mean, the president starts off with 48, 49, he starts off with a huge number.

These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn’t connect. So he’ll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean, that’s what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people.

I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. What I have to do is convince the 5 to 10 percent in the center that are independents, that are thoughtful, that look at voting one way or the other depending upon in some cases emotion, whether they like the guy or not".

Take Me To The King – Tamela Mann

These songs are dedicated to those of us that are still struggling with this journey we’re on. Be of good courage, my brothers and sisters, stay in your faith.

God Bless The USA - Lee Greenwood!

9/11/01 - 9/11/12 -11 Years!!!

Freedom Tower - April 17, 2012 - Photo by Mark Lennihan

Freedom Tower at Night - April 30, 2012 - Photo By Mark Lennihan

Nine-one-one is a date that permanently changed our way of life in America. It is another date that will live in infamy, just as December 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  Most of us remembered what we were doing on 9/11/01 and still could not believe what took place.  19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked 4 airplanes, two from American Airlines and two from United Airlines.  Two were flown into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center, one was flown into the Pentagon and the other crashed outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  Over Shanksville, the passengers fought back.  Forty lives were lost on that flight.  Heroes fought and died so that others would live.  Overall, almost 3,000 people died and as many families will forever be affected as the result of these terrorist actions.  So many men and women became heroes that day and should never be forgotten.  There are still first responders and others who are still dying and suffering from severe illnesses caused by the toxins.  I’m glad to see Congress pass the amendment to the Zadroga Act which expanded the list of cancers.  There is a lot of ill-will in this world but there are a lot more people who want to help others.  Remember, all of us are going through something, let’s try to be more understanding to each other.  Do something positive today to remember the victims and families of this tragic event.

Ain’t God Good?!!!!

You’ve heard that statement somewhere. You might have heard it in church, in the workplace, and around friends. I’ve even heard it around strangers. It stands for so many reasons but most of all it shows the appreciation of what God has done. “Ain’t God Good” just doesn’t mean how merciful and loving God is, it’s also about saving us from situations that we couldn’t get ourselves out of, even with the help of others! God stepped in when it appeared that there was no other hope. It is at that point we realize that we are not in control and our faith is rejuvenated when the impossible became possible. “Nothing is impossible to the Lord.” Once again, we recognize that miracles are taking place. We can say this statement because there are so many things to be grateful for. We forget the many blessings that we get because we take them for granted. The Apostle Paul went through many trials but he still recognized the love of God and his infinite mercy. He knew that it led his faith to become stronger and life closer to God. Know that this day, at an already appointed time, that when we are called home, that Our Lord, Jesus Christ, will be there. We all want to be ready because we don’t know when that time will come. Make a list of what you have and want. Now make a list of what you think the homeless, handicapped, incarcerated, and the terminally ill would want. I hope that you find how truly blessed that you are.

Michael Clarke Duncan, Rest In Peace!



Michael Clarke Duncan - 1957-2012 - 54 Years Old

There are many people that pass on from this life unnoticed and without any fame other than to the people and loved ones that are left behind.  We will all have to stand before the Judge when the time comes.  Not only are my prayers with the infamous, they are also with those that have left behind footprints in the hearts of many.  As I get older, I see that death does not discriminate from the old, young, gender, race, religion, politics, beauty, physical, and the powerful.  Please take a moment of silence for all of the unsung heroes, too!  We continue to pray for each other.