Don't Belive In Reincarnation...But

As with most if not all 'Wishes' common amongst the hoi polloi, Reincarnation doesn't exist.
But like follows after its kind, and the same mopes, dopes and types cur and
reoccur throughout history.
In case you are puzzled by how my goofy mind worked to assemble the picture above, Vanna and Alfred are shocked to discover that Hillary and Catherine are sisters from different mothers.
During this holiday 'break', if you want to better understand the motivations of Mrs. Clinton, read up on Kate and contrast the two.
Illumination will be a cartoon light bulb appearing over yon head.

Forgive, Please-Off Topic

This one caught me by surprise. I know, I know-holidays should be the focus. Cheer and gifts and fraterni with family and all.
Off topic, but I was perusing Reddit on break @work, and I came across this wrong picture of
Marilyn Monroe.
It is her picture, but I was struck by her face, one of the most recognizable visages from the past 50 years. Take a look.

Do you see it?
We know that she was troubled; this picture was taken three weeks before she died.
Here's what I mean-each half of her face doesn't match the other.

It's just...odd. Even the hair seems to be a different style in each half. And her eyes. 
I'm not a Monroe fan-I've had a few of her films through the years-but I appreciate that hers was a hard, short life.  Considering how hard the holidays are for some people, maybe I'm not so off topic after all.
By the bye-my life is fine; this isn't about me. But there are many who have a rough time around the holidays, who may need some of what Marilyn was missing. Peace. Friendship.

Meeting LOVE At The Corner Of Logic And Reason

For Truth Lovers

You can call me names, declare me hateful, whatever...the truth is in the image above.
If you consider yourself a compassionate person motivated by love...so am I.
I love God, respect Him and trust Him. If He declares something to be sin, even if the entire world calls it good...it is sin.
I have known His grace and compassion for over 30 years. I will know it into Eternity.
I am not motivated by hate or fear. If you hate or fear the very idea of God existing...I'm not the one with the problem.
That problem has but one solution-being reconciled to God though Jesus Christ.
You can't do that on your own terms, though a million religions have tried and failed.
Ask God to make Himself real to you, and the hate and fears will be washed away.
Mine were.

See Freedom In Action

Syrian women throwing off their outer garments as they leave Isis controlled areas, making their way into Turkey. Pictures and story are found at Sky105 dot com.
Appreciate the freedoms you have-here homosexuals can Parade with Pride-there
under Isis homosexuals are exterminated and women must cover up who they are or meet the same fate.
Here women have had the 'right' to vote for nearly 100 years-there, in some Islamic controlled countries they are not allowed to drive or have careers or even go out in public without a male guardian.
Sure, we have some troubles here. But the Syrian women pictured above would think our country to be Paradise compared to life under Isis.

Another entry from 2005

Monday, November 07, 2005

The Past Should Be

I had the opportunity awhile back to visit a part of my past. I was on the Mackinaw for nearly three years. It was during my tour of duty, back in 1979, that I accepted Christ, right onboard the ship. My life changed dramatically that day, and God has blessed me more abundantly than I have had any right to expect.
It reminds me of the difference between Grace and Mercy: Grace is God’s giving is the good things we do not deserve, Mercy is His not giving us the bad that we Do deserve. Both are evidence of His love for us.
The Mackinaw will be decommissioned next year, so when it opened for tours near here, my Dad and I made a quick trip to see it. I have mixed feelings about the experience, which is why it’s taken me a while to write this.
It was great to see the boat again, the scars and repairs welded in, all covered with red, white and spar paint. Spar is the brownish yellow color found on the smokestack. The tour was only of the outer areas and the bridge; I pointed things out to my dad, spoke with the crew directing tourists, took pictures and generally it was a nice experience.
What was unsettling for me was talking to the crew; there was an air of desperation and cynicism
that I remembered very well from my days in the Coast Guard. A young Coastie guiding tours, wearing a jacket not just because he was cold, but to cover up the fact that he was missing a few ribbons on his dress uniform. That would have been me in 1979. On the day in 1980 when I was supposed to appear in full dress uniform for the ceremony where I was awarded my “crow”-(see the cynicism?) where I was to be awarded my 3rd Class Petty Officers chevron (with an eagle, not a crow)-I was called from the galley in the middle of preparing lunch, wearing no insignia at all, and my ‘ceremony’ lasted about 10 seconds, long enough for the OOD to hand me my chevron, shake my hand, and then I went back to finish the meal.
During my recent visit I flagged down a cook who was passing by and introduced myself. She was doing my old job, in the galley where I had worked so many, many hours. She seemed bitter and stressed, and she had no good words for the school she had recently returned from, which I had gone through in 1978. What was unsettling was talking with someone going through the same routine, working the same job, having the same stresses and problems that I left behind over 20 years ago. I am now so far removed from military life that I hardly remembered what it was like. My visit reminded me of how happy I was to leave the Service. I am proud of having served, but am very grateful to God for setting me on a different path.

Posted by Doug at 8:54 AM

What If God Gave You Up For Lent?

Odd idea, right? Here's a thought-we do not please God by doing good works.
We do not please God by not doing bad ones.
The entire idea of "Lent", of our consciously working to honor God by modifying our behavior...stinks to high heaven.
God accepts us whom He Will based only and I mean ONLY on the righteousness of Christ, which was confirmed at the cross.
Christ's Righteousness imputed to our accounts is the truth which makes it possible for sinners to be justified As If Perfect before a Perfect God.
We cannot add to that righteousness OR diminish it in any way by our actions/choices/works. It is perfect as Christ is perfect.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you can do anything good enough on your own to be pleasing to God. We stink.

More From 2005

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Coffee Enhanced Reality

My life has a coffee cup nearby. I know that some decry it as bad for me, but coffee tastes so good,
and I hope to continue to live the caffienated lifestyle until God brings me Home. Hopefully there will be coffee there, too.
As I am testing the tools on this blog, I've decided to post a picture to see how it looks.

Posted by Doug at 9:40 PM

                           ************************************************** 

Friday, July 22, 2005

Sholom Aleichem

“The World is a terrible place, and if you ask about my good nature, my humor, that is the reason. To spite Them, you won’t see me cry. To spite Them, there is going to be laughter.” Sholom Aleichem

The problem with opening a post with a quote from Sholom Aleichem is that any words that I use seem pale and weak after bringing his to mind. I have loved his writing for many years, and his insight into the sometimes ridiculous but always marvelous human condition is a treasure needed to be shared in these days.
You read his stories, and you know and come to love his people, even if you, like me, are only adopted into a Jewish family. (Jesus is a Jew, and I am Blessed to be in His family.)
Sholom Aleichem’s book, “Some Laughter, Some Tears” is next to me right now; the book I wish I still had was his wonderful “Old Country Tales” which, foolishly, I lent to a girl from Romania, who quickly disappeared. I’m going to order it again, probably from ABEbooks (plug).
I do not doubt that a little of his magic is lost in the translations to English, but rather than bemoan my lack, I appreciate what I have. And I encourage you to seek out and enjoy the works of Sholom Aleichem; you will be better for having read them.
Doug

FDW Run Agains

I've decided to use Finer Dry Wit as a sort of...well, I can't say "best of" site-a 'recycler' for posts from FDW written over the past decade or so. Most are probably new to just about everybody. Happy day, citizens.

Friday, November 18, 2005

Going to My Happy Place

There's a comedic bit where someone who is super-stressed out is told to “Go to his Happy Place”-he shuts his eyes and imagines he is on a sunny beach, or in bed, comfortable and relaxed, miles from the neck deep doo doo he faced just a moment earlier. My variation, which I've done at work: “I wanted to go to my Happy Place, my favorite place in the whole world, I opened my eyes, and I was right here! At Work!”
My co-workers then tell me to shut up.
Going to a Happy Place...a dose of momentary unreality (a spoonful of sugar) to help one cope with a harsh reality (helps the medicine go down) is fine in moderation-but dangerous if one becomes addicted to Finding His Happy Place.
Some crank the music louder, or ‘get into’ Nascar/NFL/movies/TV/uh...blogging...--others go where the only bill they have to think about is the bar tab, and that's not due until they have to go home and face reality again.
You see, Reality happens, whether you're ready or not. Being comfortable with Reality makes wherever you are your Happy Place. Avoiding Reality makes wherever you are the Unhappy Place you want to be gone from.
I love my Happy Place. I also enjoy remembering other days, but not as an escape, but because I enjoyed my Reality, my Happy Place then, also.
I just sent a Thanksgiving card to a friend who was with me when I took the picture above-December 31, 2001. I included the URL for here, and hope that she stops by {Hi Vaida! Hi David!}. It was a wonderfully cold time, but it is one of my favorite memories, also; I’ve been waiting for Winter to come so I could post this picture. I hope that as you read this, you remember a great time in your life, and then look around and see that where you are right now, the Reality you face at this moment, can be your Happy Place. Today can be the great day you will remember fondly years from now. Go make it happen.