Sadly, today my blog may take on a different tone. As you all know, I live my life believing in love and forgiveness. The only way to survive the heartaches and struggles of this world is to forgive, and love. Today I am angry. My anger is justified. I know it's all part of the grief process. But it is also legitimate anger I have because of the poor leadership of our nation.
This morning, as the 5th soldier passed away from a terrorist attack on our city, I am left with a few thoughts, questions, and comments that will rattle a few of my friends. I feel I must speak the truth. You do not have to agree with me, but please hear me out.
First, where has the POTUS been while our beautiful city has suffered? Yes, there was one 2 minute press conference he gave the day of the terrorist attack. One the same day, he visited a penitentiary. He was the first president to ever do that. I suppose giving time to the prisoners there was far more important than rushing to the side of the beautiful people of Chattanooga to grieve and comfort us, and to assure us of our safety. Just a thought....
Then I can not help but bring up the fact that he is now leading our nation in a beautiful dance with the devil, Iran. If we sign an agreement with Iran, we will alienate our constant friends in Israel. Once again, evil wins, or so it seems.
The truth be told, 15-25% of Muslims are radical Muslims out to harm our nation, and other peaceful countries, such as Australia. That means that for every Muslims family I see in our community, there is a good chance that one of them may have radical ideas. One of them may be the next murderer in our city, or another city. My suggestion is a simple one. It will not solve the entire problem but perhaps it will help. If a Muslim citizen leaves our country and visits radical nations such as Yemen, Iran, and other nations known to harbor Isis, then they should not be allowed to return to our country. No exceptions. They will know when they leave, it is forever. They will be locked out of our borders.
We are at war within the borders of our own nation. It was Chattanooga this week. It's been Boston, NYC, and other cities. This is only the beginning of the war we must fight. Yet our armed forces aren't carrying weapons while they are working in our country? What is wrong with that picture? How can we ever feel safe and protected when the armed forces are unarmed, yet the terrorist have several weapons on them? What a messed up idea. I do not feel safe! Not at all! In fact, I am afraid just like many of my other fellow citizens.
And finally, lets define a hero. A hero is a man who drags his wounded fellow officer out of harms way, while still exchanging fire with a terrorist. A hero is a man who runs toward danger in order to insure the safety of others. A hero is a man who lays down his own safety and may lose his life for our nation while he is at war either abroad or at home. A hero is NOT a man who cuts off his penis and wears a dress because he should have been a born a woman rather than born a man. God did not make a mistake when he created him as a man. This new definition of "hero" is just so screwed up these days. Our society is screwed up.
Marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Period. I have gay friends. I love them. I have had them in my home, or conversed with them on Facebook. But I do not believe that they should be
married. God's word doesn't not teach that marriage is between two men or two women. As a Christian, I must stand up for Truth, and not what is correct in our current society.
Christians, please stand up with me on these Biblical thoughts. Yes, we will be persecuted, called names, and talked to like we are stupid. But we MUST stand up for what God's Word teaches. Being politically correct is not what we are called to do. We can speak the truth to others, and speak it in love. If they decide to hate us for it, that is on their shoulders. At least we have said what we are called to say.
I am not just preaching to others to live this out. I have personally had some very difficult talks with friends and family members who have bought in to society's way of thinking. In doing so, I have lost the love and respect of some people that I love so much. It is painful, and it is sad. But it is what I am called to do by my Lord. When I see Him face to face, I want Him to say "well done". He will wipe away my tears. I only hope and pray my friends and family will be there with me. God's word will not return void. That's a promise.
God have mercy on us all.....
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Emily
I lost a friend today. I haven't seen her in several years but my love for her was always the same. You see, when I was a child, her family, Phil and Ed, and another family, the Olivers, and my family were the best of friends. We nicknamed ourselves The Hops (Huckabees, Olivers, and Price's) We barbequed together most every weekend, went swimming in the lake beside Phil and Emily's house, and vacationed together in Clearwater Florida every 4th of July Week.
Her son, Ed asked that all her friends write memories of her for his family. Where do I begin? So many memories. So many great times. But I'm going to give this a try....
Emily Huckabee was truly one of a kind. I have never known anyone like her. She was wonderful!
I do believe Emily had a sign on her house somewhere that said "all stray animals welcomed"! haha It seemed every time we were over there she had a new dog or cat that had roamed to her house. Phil always let her keep them. I can see him now, shaking his head and saying, "That's just Emily." She kept a supply of dog and cat food at all times for the animals God would send her way.
I remember the spider that she took up with. It slept on her pillow beside her head for a while. She woke up one morning and her spider had died. She was sad over losing her friend. Once she gave me a beautiful solid white kitten once. I'm sure she gave me several other animals over time. We shared the bond of loving all of God's Creation, and taking in strays any chance we had.
Laughter! The Huckabee's home was always full of laughter. It was a tiny little house but somehow we all fit in (all the HOPS). We were always welcomed. And they were always sad to see us leave. What great times we had together.
Our vacations were magical, at least in our eyes. We always stayed in the same motel, went swimming together, and ate together in the evenings. Emily loved to go looking for seashells at the beach early in the morning. One day she found a couple of large shells. She thought they were so beautiful! She brought them back to the motel and laid them on the dresser. During the night she woke up and saw her "shells" crawling across the dresser. Yes! They were very much alive! We all laughed and laughed over that for years to come!
There was the Kapok Tree Restaurant in Clearwater. Oh how Emily looked forward to our meal at the Kapok Tree! It was delicious! We could only afford to eat there once during our vacations so we saved it for the end of the week. We would spend our meal laughing and talking. Never a dull moment with "The Hops".
I remember when the Huckabees lost their beloved Phil. He died way too soon in a tragic accident. Emily lost the love of her life. Ed lost his beloved Dad. And we all lost a very dear friend. Life was never the same without Phil.
Emily, Ed and Phil attended Providence Baptist Church. Dad and I were laughing the other day about how we could always count on Emily to be the last one to show up for church. There may only have been 15 minutes left in the service, but she would still come in. It didn't bother her at all to be late. In fact, we all just expected her to be late, no matter where we were going. "That's just Emily" as Phil would say.
When my daughter was born, 26 years ago, Emily bought her a gift. She was very excited to get the gift to me. Twenty six years later, and I'm still waiting on that gift! haha She had such great intentions, but sometimes she had a hard time following through. No one minded though. We all knew how much she loved us. That's all that mattered.
Love. Unconditional love. Emily taught me about unconditional love. She loved everyone, no matter who they were or where they had been. She loved all of God's creatures. We were always welcomed in her home. And always left feeling loved.
I could share even more memories. Today I am so sad. Knowing that Emily was going home to be with Jesus, I was going to visit her one final time today. But she left this earth before I could make it. I am so sad that I didn't get to see her one last time. I am so sad that I didn't get to tell her what she meant to me and the difference she made in my life. We were both free spirits. Looking back now, I realize that because of Emily, I learned that being different, and being myself was perfectly Okay. God created everyone different. He broke the mold when he created Emily. She will live in my heart and mind until I die.
I love you Emily. Ed, I love you. And Phil, you are still missed. You made a mark on this world that won't be forgotten. So did Emily. With tears I say goodbye for now. But I will see you again someday. Emily and I will be on the side of Heaven that's full of animals! And once again we will laugh and be care free.
Her son, Ed asked that all her friends write memories of her for his family. Where do I begin? So many memories. So many great times. But I'm going to give this a try....
Emily Huckabee was truly one of a kind. I have never known anyone like her. She was wonderful!
I do believe Emily had a sign on her house somewhere that said "all stray animals welcomed"! haha It seemed every time we were over there she had a new dog or cat that had roamed to her house. Phil always let her keep them. I can see him now, shaking his head and saying, "That's just Emily." She kept a supply of dog and cat food at all times for the animals God would send her way.
I remember the spider that she took up with. It slept on her pillow beside her head for a while. She woke up one morning and her spider had died. She was sad over losing her friend. Once she gave me a beautiful solid white kitten once. I'm sure she gave me several other animals over time. We shared the bond of loving all of God's Creation, and taking in strays any chance we had.
Laughter! The Huckabee's home was always full of laughter. It was a tiny little house but somehow we all fit in (all the HOPS). We were always welcomed. And they were always sad to see us leave. What great times we had together.
Our vacations were magical, at least in our eyes. We always stayed in the same motel, went swimming together, and ate together in the evenings. Emily loved to go looking for seashells at the beach early in the morning. One day she found a couple of large shells. She thought they were so beautiful! She brought them back to the motel and laid them on the dresser. During the night she woke up and saw her "shells" crawling across the dresser. Yes! They were very much alive! We all laughed and laughed over that for years to come!
There was the Kapok Tree Restaurant in Clearwater. Oh how Emily looked forward to our meal at the Kapok Tree! It was delicious! We could only afford to eat there once during our vacations so we saved it for the end of the week. We would spend our meal laughing and talking. Never a dull moment with "The Hops".
I remember when the Huckabees lost their beloved Phil. He died way too soon in a tragic accident. Emily lost the love of her life. Ed lost his beloved Dad. And we all lost a very dear friend. Life was never the same without Phil.
Emily, Ed and Phil attended Providence Baptist Church. Dad and I were laughing the other day about how we could always count on Emily to be the last one to show up for church. There may only have been 15 minutes left in the service, but she would still come in. It didn't bother her at all to be late. In fact, we all just expected her to be late, no matter where we were going. "That's just Emily" as Phil would say.
When my daughter was born, 26 years ago, Emily bought her a gift. She was very excited to get the gift to me. Twenty six years later, and I'm still waiting on that gift! haha She had such great intentions, but sometimes she had a hard time following through. No one minded though. We all knew how much she loved us. That's all that mattered.
Love. Unconditional love. Emily taught me about unconditional love. She loved everyone, no matter who they were or where they had been. She loved all of God's creatures. We were always welcomed in her home. And always left feeling loved.
I could share even more memories. Today I am so sad. Knowing that Emily was going home to be with Jesus, I was going to visit her one final time today. But she left this earth before I could make it. I am so sad that I didn't get to see her one last time. I am so sad that I didn't get to tell her what she meant to me and the difference she made in my life. We were both free spirits. Looking back now, I realize that because of Emily, I learned that being different, and being myself was perfectly Okay. God created everyone different. He broke the mold when he created Emily. She will live in my heart and mind until I die.
I love you Emily. Ed, I love you. And Phil, you are still missed. You made a mark on this world that won't be forgotten. So did Emily. With tears I say goodbye for now. But I will see you again someday. Emily and I will be on the side of Heaven that's full of animals! And once again we will laugh and be care free.
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