Testing My Christianity: Take the Plank Out Of Your Own Eye First

While searching President Trump for amorphous, interpretive, innocuous words or actions that could perhaps maybe begin to possibly be considered something to contemplate pursuing in regards to a far-reaching, distant possibility of the thought of something along the lines of obstruction, there’s this plank the size of the state of Texas with Hillary Clinton’s proven actions written all over it. ... Who honestly believes Hillary Clinton could withstand a Mueller-esque, two plus year investigation into her dealings, meetings, and associates?

Does iGeneration Reverence 9/11?

When I hear middle and high schoolers speaking nonchalantly about the horrific events of 9/11, I feel something twist in my abdomen and push against my chest. ... How does one joke about such a dreadful event? Believe me, immature teens and preteens can find a way. And it infuriates me! ... Their lack of compassion for the loss, and their lack of understanding of the extent of that loss is difficult to watch ... It’s been 18 years since it happened … meaning they weren’t there. They didn’t experience it. The only way they will adopt the perspective needed and the solemn approach desired is if we pass it on to them. Not just once or twice, but often...

Death By Vaping: Still Too Many Unknowns

How does vaping - the thing that was supposed to help smokers kick the habit - turn out to be a killer itself? ... it should be fairly obvious that if we choose to regularly inhale something other than oxygen into our respiratory systems, it probably won’t go well. At the very least, we should know exactly what it is and what it does to our bodies in both the short and long term... It begs the question: why are our young people so desperate to get high? Are they so bored, unhappy, devalued, indifferent, pressured, thrill-seeking or addicted that they feel compelled to find an outlet? Why didn’t preteens, teens and young adults fall prey to these types of addictions fifty years ago? What is so different now?

Are we Co-Signing on the Mass Institutionalization of Our Children?

You can’t be on both sides of the fence: what is in our bodies is our choice, our responsibility, and ours alone. Yet, many of those same babies are given over for up to 10 hours a day to be someone else’s responsibility instead of the mother’s. Is that reasonable? ... If mothers knew they would have to be the one to care for their own children for the first year or two or three, would that change the number of births or pregnancy terminations? If mass daycare and mass abortion were not booming, money-making industries, do you think people would give more thought to whether or not to get pregnant and have a child?

Testing My Christianity: Homelessness and My Own Dad

My dad died a few years ago. He had been chronically homeless for most of the last three decades. ... He looked pretty good - clean and imminently lovable. ... Yet he still went back to drinking and the streets almost immediately when he got the chance. What do you do with that? What can anyone do with that? My faith, my prayer life, my convictions - all of it has been tested - as I watched my dad’s destructive lifestyle choices drag on. Only God’s grace, love and forgiveness could give me what I needed to not only endure, but ...

‘Good Boys’ Movie: Who Signed Off On This Cruel Extinction of Childhood?

Why are these kids being exploited like this? They are clearly out of their element and rightly so - sex toys, drugs, and foul language are used as a hammer to pound the audience. In fact, the desensitization of our youth has reached new heights. How was this allowed to happen? Writers, casters, directors, marketers, producers, parents … was there anyone who gave thought to those boys as people; as young impressionable children in need of guidance? Were they sold out for the almighty dollar? ... Defenders of the movie point out that the trailer shows the innocence and naivety of the boys having no idea what the sex toys are, who the porn stars are married to, and what the drug life is really about. Yet, for us to watch as these young actors are mentally and emotionally raped by the infringement of adult issues - crass, gutter, immoral, excessive adult issues - is a monumental travesty. ... We must not sit idly by and watch this mass extinction of childhood.

Testing My Christianity: The First To Speak Seems Right … Why Is the Truth So Hard to Find?

Getting to the root cause leads to personal responsibility and determination of blame. Yes, blame. Although it has become a buzz-word and a cue to become insulted and hurt, blame is merely a word that means to assign responsibility for a fault or wrong. This should be no surprise, since we all sin and do wrong. Without acknowledging our faults, wrongs, and mistakes, we would be unable to apologize, make amends, grow our character, and learn from them.

Just Because the Climate Changes Doesn’t Automatically Mean It’s a Problem, Does It?

I’m not sure why climate change is such the extreme, emotion-laden topic that it is, except that there must be gobs of money available, hidden, squandered, and tied up in and around it. Isn’t that always the case? ... We have shown ourselves to have the desire and means to change the trajectory of impact our existence has on our planet. ... It seems to me that a simple, powerful, and well put together public education campaign and the consistent enforcement of many of the rules and regulations already in place would do the job. ...

Hey Congresswomen, Just Because I Don’t Agree Doesn’t Mean I’m Racist … Tweet That!

This twisted definition of racism is turned into another travesty when true racism is watered down by it. Many whining, self-promoting, thin-skinned, sore losers who are unable to use intellect and facts to win in the arena of thoughts and ideas rely on the R-word to give them cover. ... So, Congresswomen - and those spewing this foolishness alongside you - stop insulting me and other thinking individuals with your feigned outrage and moral insult. You are Congresswomen in the den of politics. You can't be both weak and strong; claiming that you're so tough and not afraid of the big bad president while crying the big croc tears and appropriating racism when he tells you off!