"Where Are You Heading, In 2019?"

I get troubled when I see people so interested in these "Ancestry" websites.  If only folks were more interested in where they're HEADED rather than where they're FROM, they would be much better off.

We cannot change where we're FROM, and ultimately, if we go back far enough we all share the same first parents, Adam and Eve.  The "Family Tree" which affected ALL of us is the one God told them not to eat of, and because of their disobedience we all inherited the sin nature of our first parents.

"Ancestry" websites will never tell you this, but the BIBLE does.  People usually search ancestry sites to try to find out something flattering about their lineage, but God's Word tells us the painful truth about ourselves....namely, we are all sinners in need of a Savior.

So we can't change ANYTHING about where we're FROM but we can, (God helping us by His Grace), change where we're HEADING, you see.

Today is December 31st, the last day of the year 2018 and, like it or not, if you live past midnight you WILL enter a new year and be one year closer to eternity.  

You can't change that, EITHER!! Neither can the richest and most powerful people in the world.  But if you are not already saved,with your sins forgiven and washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ, you CAN still change where you are HEADING.

Where ARE you heading??  Well, according to Scripture, ALL of us (except those who are alive when Jesus returns) are headed for DEATH and JUDGMENT.  And Death and Judgment will either land you in Heaven or Hell for all eternity...we are all heading to one place or the other, depending (from the human side) on what WE do with the Good News of the Gospel.

You can change where you're heading by going to Jesus, in faith, NOW and asking Him to forgive YOU as He has done to me and countless millions of others. Because when 2019 hits us, where you're FROM is a year farther away, and where you're HEADING is another year closer.  Scripture says we don't know what will happen in a DAY, never mind a whole YEAR so today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart...don't even WAIT till 2019.

My prayer is that, in the midst of all the phony festivities lost people partake of to forget what the coming of a new year REALLY means, (namely, that death and judgment are creeping ever closer), that YOU will ask where you're heading in 2019.  And, if YOU are lost, I pray that you'll do something to change your future...get saved in the Blood of Jesus Christ!! Amen!!

"My Happiest Moment of 2018"

As the year draws to a close, there's no doubt that marrying Mercedes Jones, 8 months ago today,
is and was was my happiest moment of 2018!!

A few days before that gorgeous Spring day, my dear daughter Jenna gave birth to her first child (my fifth GRANDchild) down in North Carolina.  THAT was amazing, and I love the little guy very much...but it can't compare to the joy of marrying Mercedes.

After our marriage on April 28th, Mercedes and I went on a WONDERFUL Honeymoon, driving around to visit 13 different states.  We stopped in Maryland (seeing the Babe Ruth Museum), N.C. to see my new grandson, Tennessee to check out Dollywood,, the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio and we ended up in NIAGARA (the New York State side) during our two week excursion.  Then, we took a SECOND Honeymoon in OCTOBER, visiting Niagara Falls from the CANADA side, and checking out the Boxing Hall of Fame and BASEBALL Hall of Fame, both in New York State.  But none of that compares to the joy of marrying Mercedes and knowing we are formally, LEGALLY on the same team as husband and wife, SERVING OUR SAVIOR TOGETHER.

Above: I had this bat made for us in Cooperstown when we visited.there to see the Hall of Fame.


Today, we are closing on our new house, but none of that would mean a thing without HER...see, it cannot compare to the JOY of marrying Mercedes eight months ago today.  I thank the Lord for His GOODNESS to me, giving me a good wife to share the rest of my life with!! Marrying HER was my Happiest Moment of 2018, without a doubt.




My Biggest Writing Achievement of 2018.  Because of my marriage, Honeymoons and house-hunting, I haven't written MUCH this year other than this blog.  Hopefully in 2019, Lord Willing I'll get back to writing BOOKS and more (and better) poems than I've written recently!!  Stan Lee would have been 96 today, and getting my tribute to him printed in the New York Daily News when he died last month was my biggest literary achievement of the year, considering I had limited literary activity.  (My favorite POEM of the year was in my LAST post.)  In case you missed it, here's what I wrote about STAN....

Finally, My Artistic "Achievements" of The Year.  Again, 2018 saw me occupied with many other things, and I hope to get back to OIL PAINTINGS in 2019, after we move and get settled.  These two drawings below made it to the paper, yes, but they were OLD pieces I retouched because of lack of TIME. (In fact, the FLICKER got retouched AGAIN before they printed it, as noted in an earlier blog!!)  In case you missed them, here they are again...

See my Facebook page "Writing From Whiting- Poems by Chet Jelinski" for more of my art / poems.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!! May we ALL love the Lord Jesus Christ more, in 2019!! I do not see how 2019 can have a happier moment than 2018's marriage to Mercedes, though!!

Cellphone Memes / "DON'T Keep Christ in Christmas" Poem

As mentioned in an earlier blog, these Memes illustrate how our CELLS have become PRISONS for many.....!!

And now, the POEM...

I wrote this poem (above) 2 years ago but it appeared in the paper THIS year, and maybe even in this BLOG (I'm not sure.) 

Anyway, as Christmas is over and 2018 ends, it's definitely worth reposting!!

It IS my "Poem of the Year," 2018.





CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE....

INDEX of 2018 "Chetitorials" (By Main Subject)

A--- Aaron Judge (Sept. 21st), "Acrimony" movie (April 6th), Alcoholism, sin of (Sept. 18th), America (July 10th),  Amy Grant, (Dec. 8th),  A.N. Martin's new book Pastoral Theology, (July 13th), "Are You Ready?" message by me, (July 17th), Aretha Franklin (August 28th), Aurelia, Adopted Mom #1 died (March 9th)

B--- Babe Ruth (June 19th), Baseball, (Oct. 17th), Bea, Adopted Mom #3 hospitalized (Nov.8th),  Bernie Williams, (Sept. 8th),  Beth (first wife, mentioned in several blogs),  Bible, The Holy  (mentioned in just about every blog, sometimes referred to as "Scriptures" or "God's Word."),  "Black Panther" movie (Feb. 2nd, 17th, 27th),  Bill Bane, (June 25th), Bill DeBlasio, (Oct. 15th), Bill Cosby, (June 2nd, Sept. 25th), Bill Hybels, (Sept. 13th),  Billy Graham, (Feb. 23rd, Nov. 7th), "Black Friday Blues" poem, (Nov. 23rd),  Book Idea (Ghetto Getaways), (June 29th),  Boston Red Sox, (Oct. 30th), Brett Kavanaugh, (Sept. 21st, Oct. 1st, Oct. 6th),  Buck Showalter, (Oct. 12th)

C--- Canada, (Oct. 11th),  Cardinal drawing, (Dec. 15th, 21st),  Carol Eubert Tribute, "(Feb. 20th),  Cat Stevens, (Dec. 8th),  Cell phones, ((Dec. 15th, 27th),  C. C. Sabathia, (Sept. 29th),  "Chappaquiddick" movie, (April 13th),  "Charlie Brown Christmas'" (Nov. 24th),  Chris Pratt, (June 22nd),  Christian Work Ethic, (Nov. 29th),  Christmas Season, (August 7th, Nov. 27th and 28th),  Cicely Tyson, (Nov. 21st, 29th),  Clint Eastwood, (Dec. 3rd, 13th, and 15th), Craig Shoemaker Tribute, (Dec. 11th),  "Creed II" movie, (Nov. 14th, 27th), Cursing and Promise-Breaking, as sins (July 6th)

D--- Deana Carter, (Dec. 8th, Dec. 17th),   Dolly Parton (July 19th, Dec. 8th), Diet, My (Sept. 24th),  "Doubting Thomas," (June 8th)

E--- Eagles, The (Super Bowl Champs), (Feb. 8th),  Election 2018, (Nov. 8th),  Elton John, (Dec. 8th)

F--- Facebook, (Jan. 26th, 30th, March 23rd, Oct. 17th),  Flicker drawings and poem, (Oct. 6th),  Flag Day, (June 15th), Frank Espinal, Pastor ( Dec. 24th)

G--- Grandparents' Day, (Sept. 4th), God (as Unchanging),  (August 10th)

H--- Heaven, (July 10th),  Hillary Clinton, (Oct. 20th, Oct. 31st),  Homosexuality, sin of  (Dec. 8th),  Hospitable Leader book, (Oct. 30th)

I--- Illegal Aliens, (Oct. 26th)

J--- Jesus Christ, The LORD,  (mentioned in just about every blog),  Joe DiMaggio,  (Nov. 3rd),  John F. Kennedy, (April 13th, Nov. 17th), John Lennon, (Sept. 21st, Nov. 17th, Dec. 8th), John Wayne, (Feb. 23rd, Oct. 23rd)

K--- Kanye West, (Oct. 12th)

L---Losing The Lost, book by me, (Dec. 18th),  Louis Farrakhan, (Oct. 3rd),  Loving Our Wives, (Sept. 5th)

M--- Manny Machado,  (Dec. 20th),  Maggie Thatcher, (Dec. 8th),  Mariano Rivera, (June 5th, August 3rd, Dec. 15th),  Megyn Kelly, (Oct. 26th),  Memorial Day, (May 25th),  "Mom B.," Adopted Mom #2 died (April 3rd),  Money, Vanity of  (July 3rd),  My Newest Grandson, (April 24th),  My Sunday School Class, (Feb. 13th, March 23rd, Dec. 21st),  My Testimony of Salvation, (March 13th, 16th),  My Wedding to Mercedes, (April 24th, 27th, May 15th,  Nov. 10th and Dec. 28th),  Muslims, (Dec. 21st)

N

O--- Omarosa, (August 17th)

P--- Paul McCartney, (March 27th),  Paul Simon, (Sept. 8th),  Phil Heymach,  (Sept. 15th),  Poems, 3 misc. (August 22nd),  Pope, the (Dec. 15th),  Predatory Priests, (August 31st),  President Bush "41", G.H.W.,  (Dec. 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th),  President Bush "43", (Dec. 4th),  President Carter,  (Dec. 3rd),  President Clinton, (Sept. 13th, Nov. 27th),  President Obama, (Oct. 15th),  President Reagan,  (Dec. 3rd),  President Trump,  (April 17th),  Prince Harry and Meghan, (May 18th, 22nd)

Q

R--- Racial Division in America,  (August 25th),  Racism, sin of (May 29th),  Real Men, (Oct. 23rd),  Robin drawings by me, (March 23rd),  "Rocky" movies, (Jan. 15th)

S--- Salvation, the Way of,  (April 10th),  Sean Hannity,  (Dec. 4th),  Shohei Ohtani,  (June 19th),  Stan Lee, (Feb. 10th, Nov. 13th, 14th and 17th),  Steve McQueen (August 14th)

T--- Tommy Morrison,  (Feb. 23rd),  Tony Evans and his book Watch Your Mouth  (Feb. 13th), Thanksgiving,  (Nov. 14th and 19th),  Things I'm Thankful For,  (Nov.10th)

U--- "Unshaken" poem by me,  (Sept. 11th),  US Postal Service,  (July 24th)

V--- Veteran's Day,  (Nov. 10th),  Vincent Price,  (March 6th)

W--- Weather, in God's Control,  (April 20th),  Willie Mays (Nov. 3rd),  Willie McCovey, Nov. 1st

X

Y---Yankees, The New York,  (March 30th,  July 26th,  Sept. 29th,  Oct. 3rd,  Nov. 14th)

"Frank"

My good friend FRANK lost his daughter last week, yet preached this WONDERFUL Christmas message yesterday.  It's only 35 minutes so cut and paste the link and listen, if you have the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7RM1exl4qc&t=59s&fbclid=IwAR1exiUpu6MufAKVcxyuFTP73vEhazed81U1IuQS_OwiZi1nApl9CdmvQV0'

Frank is the Pastor of Christ-Centered Community Church in Edgewater, NJ.

Merry Christmas!!

"Seizing The Season! (Reposted from Nov. 28th)"

The "Christmas Season," longer than usual THIS year because of an early Thanksgiving, is a painful time for many.  While most of us are shopping, or partying, or anticipating Christmas,  some suffer in silence feeling quite the opposite. Most often their depression, and dread of the holidays, can be because of the death of a loved one, or the imminent death of one, but there may be other factors, as well.

For example, if you visit a place where the elderly are "cared for," as I often do, you'll see many who are sad simply because virtually no one comes to interact with them unless they are paid to do so.  It's particularly heartbreaking to see these folks at THIS time of year when many, for the most part, only have others who are "in the same boat" to be with.  Lonely men and women who are separated from family and friends, because of military service, or incarceration, or OTHER reasons not related to sickness or death (think singleness or orphans or homelessness) find the "Christmas Season" to be a very painful time, as well.

My dad died on Christmas Day, 2009 and my first wife was dying slowly during Christmas 2015 and 2016.  And I remember the isolation I felt, even though my kids and church family and friends were very supportive of me.  There's something about seeing "everyone else" in the "Christmas Spirit" and you are not.....and if you dare to be transparent about what you feel, you might be labeled "Scrooge" or "Grinch" as quickly as you might be falsely called "racist" if you're white and had a problem with Barack Obama, Lol! (And, let's face it, who wants to be called a "partypooper," after all?)

Only GOD can sustain us when we are in such loneliness. He sure sustained ME!!  But there are those who don't know Him in a saving way, and those of us who DO know Him need to "Seize The Season." Search them out, and seek to reach the lost, USE the opportunities that Christmas presents and, at the very least PRAY for people. It's very unlikely (though not impossible) that those who suffer in silence, or those who are lost, will reach out to US, you see!!

Let us not forget that the One whose birthday we honor was called "Man of Sorrows" and He spoke of leaving the 99 sheep and searching for the one who was lost. Again, as I frequently say, "Fishers of Men" go where the fish are, they don't pray for the fish to come up on dry land to them. We need to spread the Good News that Jesus came to save His People from their sins, and, of course, to DO that we have to know Him ourselves and then see beyond ourselves.



In conclusion, there's lots of talk about "Keeping Christ in Christmas" but until we follow the Example of the One Who left all to come to where WE are, for OUR good, our problem is not keeping Christ in Christmas...it's getting Him here in our hearts, in the first place.

"Ruffled Feathers!!"

My new poem, and art, DID appear in the paper this week as I'd hoped (see Dec. 15th blog)!!  However, something ELSE was in there which interrupted my "Christmas Cheer." 

....and even my annual "Christmas Cardinal" (above) had his feathers ruffled by it.

Let me explain, please.

For some time, though we have virtually NO Muslims in our town, the paper has been carrying full-page articles by a local Muslim "PH.D."  Frankly, I never paid too much attention to these essays before but the one for THIS month, entitled "The Miracle Birth of Jesus Christ," caught my eye and I actually READ most of it.  (You see, I'm teaching on this very subject in my Men's Sunday School class this Sunday, so my interest was piqued.  Also, this man's PREVIOUS entries were all aimed at defining the ISLAMIC position on things.  THIS time, he is trying to REdefine what WE (Christians) believe, and that both interests and concerns me.)

Here's why.

1.)  Yes, his TITLE mentions "Jesus Christ" but in the article, he refers to "Jesus (PBUH)," whatever that means, six different times. Never once does the author refer to Jesus as "Jesus Christ" again, making it obvious his title was a bait-and-switch designed to suck Christians in to reading the piece.

Had it been entitled "The Miracle Birth of Jesus (PBUH)," it would have been obvious immediately that Christians have NO common ground with Muslims.

We may, indeed, become a nation called "Islamerica" one day but there will never, ever be a true blending of Christianity and Islam...."Chrislam," as some try to call it.  Light and darkness will NEVER mix.

2.)  He writes, quote, "Muslims exalt and revere Mary more than the Christians, because the Christians in some of their writings talk about Mary being betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph."  The problems with this are as follows...a.)  Here he is openly declaring some perceived superiority of Islam over Christianity.  Yet would CHRISTIANS be allowed to say OUR religion is better than Islam, in print like this, today?  I doubt it.  Then,  b.) It's not "our writings," it's GOD'S WORD which states Mary was betrothed to Joseph...but regardless,  c.)  In the preceding paragraph, the author had just mocked those who believe (correctly) that Jesus is the son of GOD, now he's taking Christians to task for believing that He is also the son of JOSEPH. Not that we'd WANT to, but will this paper allow CHRISTIANS to write about every perceived inconsistency in ISLAM, at THEIR most important holiday of the year??  

3.) Those things can be attributed to spiritual blindness, yes, but the author flat-out LIED when he wrote, speaking of Mary as being a VIRGIN, "in the American dictionary, a virgin woman is one who didn't marry.  In our terminology, as Muslims, it has nothing to do with marriage; a virgin woman is one who has never been touched by a man."

Merriam-Webster's first definition of "Virgin" is one who has never had sexual intercourse.

So he lied.  And it's a whopper.

Believe it or not, though, my main gripe is not with this Muslim, it's with the PAPER for giving him a platform and allowing him to say things denigrating OUR religion (Christianity) that we would NEVER be able to say, with impunity, about his.  I'm also upset that his bald-faced lie about what the American dictionary says regarding "Virgin" was allowed to see print unchallenged.  Editors are supposed to EDIT, but we all know that most editors are afraid of getting sued by members of certain groups if they try to hold them to the same standard that the REST of us are held to.

I've e-mailed the editor and asked if I can do a column of my own from a CHRISTIAN standpoint, in the interest of equal time.

I don't expect a response, but I hope I am wrong about that.

"Much Ado About (Manny) Machado"

The Yankees are STONE COLD CRAZY if they sign free agent Manny Machado, at ANY price.

Sure, he's a great player, but Manny admitted he doesn't HUSTLE...and for 300 million dollars over the next ten years, (his asking price), Mister, you had better HUSTLE.

The Yanks recently dodged a big bullet by NOT resigning former Yank Robinson Cano....ANOTHER guy who had tremendous natural talent, but dogged it whenever he could.

And they also have three guys on the team right now...Andujar, Torres and Sanchez, who, in my opinion, have a WORLD of talent but could be even better if they didn't daydream so much on the field!!

We simply do NOT need Manny Machado....or, Manny MuchNADA, if you will....added to this team NOW.  I like Didi Gregorious, a TRUE hustler, at shortstop instead of Manny.  He may not have the natural TALENT Manny does, but he loves the game, the city and the fans, and Didi gives 100% every time he plays...for a lot less money than MANNY!!

LET ANOTHER TEAM GET MANNY, Yankees.  

All of this attention everyone's giving him, in my opinion,  is simply Much Ado about Machado.

"Losing The Lost"

My dad died on Christmas Day, 2009 and I wrote this book about him in 2012. It's only 40 pages and you can read it all for free by cutting-and-pasting this link, and then clicking "Preview"...



http://www.blurb.com/books/3642581-losing-the-lost



(With Christmas Day only one week away now, I thought I'd make this my Chetitorial today.  By the way, my DAD'S name was "Chet," also.)

"Deana Carter: Celebrating Life "

Five years ago this month, I met my favorite Country singer, DEANA CARTER, before one of her concerts in New York City.  I handed her the manuscript of a book about her that I had just completed, entitled "Deana Carter, Before & After."  The book expressed my belief, based on her recent statements and actions, that Deana had now become a Bible-believing Christian, and I was very happy about that.

I never heard back from DEANA about the book...I was looking for her input before I self-published.  However, I did, perhaps wrongly, listen to a few voices who questioned Deana's profession and said my book was premature, that she wasn't really saved. One of those voices was one of her ex-husbands.  I therefore held off self-publishing the book, even though my son Rob, the graphic designer, had already created a COVER for me (above).

Well, shortly after that, my mother-in-law (my first wife's mom), who lived with us, got sick and died and then BETH (my first wife) did the same over the next few years.  And before you know it, five years have passed and only recently I decided to look up Deana Carter again and see what she was up to since I shelved my manuscript. Here's what I've found, as I've "caught up" on Deana...



     1.) Deana has not released a new album since "Southern Way of Life," which debuted five years ago this month.


     2.) The only NEW song she's recorded, as far as I can tell, is a single lovely ballad called "Celebrate Life" (more later.)


     3.) Every Friday, Deana leads a BIBLE STUDY on YouTube, entitled "TGIF...Thank God I'm Forgiven." She is up to broadcast #100, and I like her commitment to Scripture AND her zeal.


     4.) She has had minor roles in two very wholesome "family-type," straight-to-DVD movies.  These are called "Painted Horses" and "Runnin' From My Roots," the latter of which which just came out a few days ago.  (I saw "Painted Horses" when it debuted in 2016, and I just ordered the NEW movie, but haven't seen it yet.  I base my assessment on the synopsis of the movie and my faith that Deana IS now a believer who wants to please the Lord in everything.)


     5.)  Deana remarried for the third time, this past summer.  And this will come as a shock to some Christians, but some folks who get divorces DO have Biblical warrant to do so, according to what Jesus taught.  Let's be clear...God hates divorce and so do I...I've never BEEN divorced and never intend to GET divorced, but we must not judge those who've done this (especially when we don't know all of the facts.)  I emphasize this because one of those who advised me to hold off on the book five years ago questioned Deana's salvation because she'd been divorced once and had a child out of wedlock once.  This was in the "Before" of Deana's life...not the "After."



On November 21st, I wrote here about how GOD kept my Bio of a celeb from being successful because it turns out that that person (whose birthday it is in two days, by the way) lied to me about her age several times.

..............But I now wonder if it wasn't "the accuser of the brethren," Satan, who kept me from self-publishing DEANA'S story!!

None of us are perfect, but I really believe Deana Carter has demonstrated that she IS a Christian, now more than EVER, and I'm contemplating dusting off my manuscript and updating it (perhaps after my new bride and I move into our new house and get settled.) And I feel TOTALLY vindicated for my assessment that Deana IS now a believer, a conviction which I came to in early 2013!!  The past five years, in my opinion, bear out my assessment..



The song "Celebrate Life" is a BEAUTIFUL ballad as part of the soundtrack for a documentary about an elderly homeless woman, "Queen Mimi" (that's the name of the movie).  The title ALONE is much-needed in our world today, for we live in a culture of death and destruction thanks to the legalizing of abortion 45 years ago.  The lyrics to "Celebrate Life" start out by saying we should celebrate life in all its glory because it's our story.  The story of Deana's transition from death to life in Christ has grown all the more compelling over these last five years!! Before she knew the Lord, one of Deana's albums was "The Story of My Life" but now she REALLY has a story because she really has LIFE in the fullest sense.

In 20/20 hindsight, I never should have listened to those who said Deana Carter wasn't saved five years ago, but one thing I know.  If I do dust off my book and expand it to cover these last five years, the TITLE will get changed!! It will no longer be "Deana Carter, Before & After" as if she had JUST come to know the Lord, you see.

My new title will be "Deana Carter: Celebrating Life" because, as far as I'm concerned, the evidence is TOTALLY there that she is walking in the narrow way that leads to Eternal Life.

More "Mini-Blogs"...

Once again, several MINI-blogs....and to start, this is my new art for the paper (above.)

Cardinal:  I have an excellent, long-standing relationship with my local newspaper and the Editor likes my art and poems.  However, I do not presume that my new work will be PRINTED and even if it is, there's no guarantee I'll get COLOR printing.  Therefore, I'm posting the drawing, in color, HERE so I'll know someone will see it "as I intended." (I'll learn next week, Lord Willing, if the PAPER will print it, by the way.)

I wish many "professional" people would not presume that THEIR new efforts will be rewarded just because they've had success in the PAST at something.  Speaking from 35 years' experience as a small business owner, when we begin to BOAST and then COAST....we're soon TOAST (Lol)!!

Cells:  Above is ONE of seven memes someone sent me regarding CELL-PHONES.  I will post the others in the Comments section of this blog.  If the Memes have a THEME, it is that, pardon the pun, our Cells have imprisoned us.  The memes I'll post in Comments make this point forcefully, and, "pictures are worth 1,000 words," so consider those memes my mini-blog on THAT subject.

Mariano Rivera:  "Mo" is someone who I've written about in two previous blogs this year, and he's up for the Baseball Hall of Fame voting early next month.. Will he be the first UNANIMOUS inductee??  I don't know...he certainly DESERVES it.  Even the great Willie Mays (my favorite all-time player) was not voted in unanimously, but Willie never led his team to FIVE WORLD TITLES, and did not perform well in the post-season, like MARIANO did. 

As a Yankee fan AND a fellow Christian like Mariano Rivera, I will certainly be rooting for him.

He's a lock to ENTER the Hall and will publicly give God the glory in his speech whether he's unanimous or not...but he'll have even MORE of a platform to share his faith if he IS the first unanimous inductee!!

Flip-Flopping Pope:  Two years ago, this Pope urged priests to accept people who are openly gay, breaking centuries of Catholic church tradition.  I haven't been a Catholic since I got saved in 1975, but this angered even ME.  Now, it's almost FUNNY because the same Pope who wanted priests to ACCEPT gays two years ago now says priests can't BE gay because it leads to the abuse of young boys, for which the Catholic church is infamous.

No kidding.

A lot of Catholics are having their eyes opened to the fact that the Pope is now, AND WAS NOT EVER, "infallible in matters of faith and morals."  May they see that ONLY GOD'S WORD IS INFALLIBLE, and it condemns Homosexuality and calling ANYONE "Father" in a religious sense ("Pope" literally means "Papa.")

Clint:  The new Clint Eastwood movie (see last blog) was GREAT...saw it last night... but I have nothing to add to what I said about him previously.  Check that blog out (and the movie) if you haven't, already!!

"Clint's 'The Mule' "

I did this drawing of now-88 year old CLINT EASTWOOD many, many moons ago. Though I loved his westerns, Clint's last three movies that he's starred in, starting with the boxing-centered "Million Dollar Baby," are my all-time favorite Clint Classics.

The trailer for his new movie, "The Mule," which comes out tomorrow, has me concerned however.

  Frankly, the new movie doesn't look that good, and Clint HIMSELF now looks too old for the part.  It kind of has me wondering "Does Clint still have 'it' ?" (I'd hate to see him snap his own "winning streak," but, of course my friend Mike and I are planning to go to the theater despite this lingering doubt I have.)

Note: I said I am WONDERING if  Eastwood still has "it."      I'm not WORRYING about that.

  What I am worrying about, however is if this aging cinematic genius who has been blessed with SO MUCH will get right with God before he dies one day...or if he'll be one who, as Jesus said, "gains the world but loses his soul."  

(THAT is something "worthy" of worry, in my opinion.)

You see, "The Mule" is an apt title for a movie starring a man, however much I love him, who is worth $350-plus million bucks and yet says he doesn't believe in God.  He is STUBBORN as a mule....but I pray God turns his heart before he passes!!  There is only one place God can send atheists when they die...and, let me put it this way, He doesn't need to prove to any of us that He exists by bringing us to Heaven.  There is SO much evidence of His existence, here and now, just in His CREATION, that all of us are left without excuse if we don't seek Him while there's time.

God's GOODNESS has not yet led Clint to repentance, and the Lord is under no obligation to try trials or affliction or exposure to the Gospel (which, I've read, he had growing up, ANYway.)  But I hope GOD hasn't given up on CLINT the way CLINT wants no part of GOD.

Getting back to "The Mule" the MOVIE.....it is said that you can't judge a book by its cover and, for that matter, you can't always tell how good a MOVIE is by its TRAILER.  I hope "The Mule" is better than it appears to be.

And as far as "The Mule" who is Clint Eastwood, THE BIBLE says that "Man looks at the outward appearance but the LORD looks at the HEART"....I hope God is doing something in Clint's heart that we CAN'T see yet...and if He isn't, I pray that He WILL yet deal with this "Mule" so many of us love.

"Craig"

I liked my friend Craig Shoemaker, who died today of a heart attack, since the very first time we met.  In fact we hit it off SO well that I took this picture of him (above) at our first meeting.

It was January 1981, and Beth and I were visiting Michigan with our daughter Jenna (15 months old at the time.) Ronald Reagan was being sworn in for his first term that very day as a mutual friend introduced me to CRAIG, a big, "gentle giant" type of guy. Craig and  I "clicked" immediately talking about our common faith in the Lord AND the first two "Rocky" movies (this was a year-and-a-half before "Rocky III" came out, which shows you how long ago it was.)  Craig got a kick out of my "New Jerseyish" manner of speaking, and I loved to hear his hearty laugh.  I took this photo of the big guy and we promised we'd stay in touch, but, sadly, never did.  Until...

Fast forward to 2015, 34 years later.

Craig and I reconnected on Facebook, and when he learned that Beth was dying of cancer, he came to New Jersey to visit.  You see, Craig never married but told me several times he was looking for a "good little gal" like her before he'd take the plunge.  He admired her, and was disappointed (jokingly, of course), that my daughter was now grown and engaged, Lol!! (I, in turn, visited HIM in Michigan last year, a few months after Beth passed.) Below is a photo of Craig as he looked last year, in 2017, 36 years after our first meeting.

The thing about Craig is even though over three decades passed between our first meeting and the last two, we always enjoyed hanging out (or chatting on the phone, or via Facebook) as much as that FIRST time.  The mark of TRUE friendship and fellowship!! Not even 24 hours ago, Craig had a massive heart attack while working, and he just died today. 

I'm sad, but as I'm almost the age HE was (64), I know it most likely won't be over 3 decades before I see Craig again. And when I do, it will be There, in the Place where Christ is, His People are, and Where there will be no more pain or partings.

Until then, this world has lost a really great guy, Craig Shoemaker.

" 'MERRY CHRISTMAS, MAGGIE THATCHER' (An Example of Hateful Hypocrisy)"

I am a fan of ELTON JOHN, arguably the most famous Homosexual living today.  I've liked him and his music since 1970, and even though I became a Christian in '75, I've continued to appreciate him (which, frankly, raises some eyebrows amongst my closest friends, but sobeit.)

See, I believe God has given him (and his frequent lyricist, Bernie Taupin) the gifts they have, and even though THEY don't know Him (yet), there is still much of His Image remaining in them and much of His creative glory is revealed through their collaborations.  I feel the same way about Cat Stevens, who I've liked since 1972 and STILL like, even though he is now a Muslim.  (I sometimes get a lot of grief  because I still listen to him , also, by the way. But I don't care.)

You see, as long as "Sir Elton" doesn't push his gay agenda in his music, and as long as "Yusuf" (Cat Stevens's new name) doesn't promote ISLAM in his lyrics, I can enjoy them in moderation, for music  IS the "Universal Language." I can find common ground with people I differ with, in other words, without compromising the ground I take my stand on and without hating them.

Apparently, Elton John does not have THAT gift, sadly.

I've recently learned that he's a hateful hypocrite towards those he disagrees with about Homosexuality.

Of all the Elton John CDs I have, his "Peachtree Road" (2004) is my favorite.  I bought it when it first came out 14 years ago, and I like that disc SO much that I recently bought the Special Edition (pictured above) containing three extra tracks and a DVD concert!!  Yes, I bought it DESPITE the fact that Elton "married" David Furnish 4 years ago and I think that is a sinful marriage which goes against God's order. However, I've learned recently that Elton does NOT have the same tolerance for those who are different from HIM, because I found a song in one of the three bonus tracks, (Elton's songs from the "Billy Elliot" musical), which disturbed me very, very much.  It's called "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher" and here are the lyrics.

           

Note the part which "celebrates" Christmas as being "one day closer to your (Maggie Thatcher's) death." 

The British Prime Minister was outspokenly against the spread of Homosexuality when she was alive.  Though that fact is not mentioned in the song's lyrics, I'm sure that's PART of why EJ agreed to write music for them.

Important: These despicable insults aimed at Thatcher, who died 9 years later, were NOT written by TAUPIN, but Elton SANG them wholeheartedly even though HE didn't write them, EITHER.

So why do I get the sinking, stinking feeling that if I met Elton John, and told him I like HIM though I cannot approve of his Homosexuality, he'd call me "Mean-Spirited"?? But yet HE showed so much mean`spirited-ness to someone that HE disagrees with??

Who is REALLY the Mean-Spirited one here??

Just this year, John wanted to ban social media because of "hate speech", yet he, HIMSELF, is guilty of it big-time....as most LGBTQs seem to be.

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2018/06/12/elton-john-social-media-ban/

Sadly, Elton John is a hateful, hypocritical Homosexual but I'll continue to pray for him.  Watching that DVD of his live performances I can see the tortured look in his eyes.  He is NOT a happy man....."gay" used to mean HAPPY, but Elton John is NOT "gay" in that sense.  And the fact that the song says "May God's love be with you" while Elton IS a Homosexual leads me to one final issue, and here it is.

Some wonder why Jesus never explicitly condemned Homosexuality in the New Testament, and try to say that therefore it must be OKAY because He never said it isn't.  This is why many Homosexuals think that they are recipients, and dispensers, of "God's love" when they aren't while they practice that sin impenitently. My thoughts on that are these...

1.) The OLD Testament condemned Homosexuality and Jesus UPHELD the Old Testament, specifically mentioning Lot's wife (who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of rampant Homosexuality.  Jesus also upheld the Old Testament in MANY places, there in the New Testament.) 

2.) Jesus condemned HYPOCRISY many, many times and, in my opinion, Homosexuality is the ULTIMATE hypocrisy because we are all given life by God through a HETEROSEXUAL union.  To embrace HOMOSEXUAL unions is, in my mind, hypocrisy in the highest degree as we wouldn't be here to do ANYthing if not for a man and a woman coming together!!

Certainly, gays are not the only hypocrites out there but hypocrisy does seem to be one of their predominant qualities...they whine for "tolerance" which they do not practice towards those who are different than them.  Therefore, Jesus did not need to categorically speak against Homosexuality....Hypocrisy covers it quite well.

3.) JESUS INVITES ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO IS "WEARY AND HEAVY LADEN" TO COME TO HIM SO THAT HE CAN "GIVE THEM REST."  This includes Homosexuals, Heterosexuals and ANYONE who is tired of their sin and wants to be forgiven!! In this Christmas Season, we remember that Jesus came to earth to save His people from their sins, and EVERYONE is welcome to come...but we must leave sin BEHIND when we do. 

P.S., Obviously, I do NOT recommend Elton's Christmas song. but in closing, let me recommend 3 albums of EXCELLENT Christmas music, which I truly love by the way...

As far as POP music goes, my favorite all-time SINGLE Christmas song is "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon and his wife Yoko.  By the way, John was tragically assassinated 38 years ago tonight.

"A Day of Mourning Defended"

Some criticize President Trump's declaring that today is a National Day of Mourning for President "Bush 41."  I am not one of those.

Yes, the Day of Mourning comes in the midst of the Holiday Season, and many want to PARTY PARTY PARTY without interruption, but what does God's Word say about all of this? I refer to Ecclesiastes 7:4...


                             "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart."


Verse 3 adds in that "Sorrow is better than laughter" and verse 4 says that "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning." God does NOT have a problem with us interrupting the Christmas Season to have A Day of Mourning today...after all, He caused "Bush 41" to die when he did and turned Trump's heart to make the declaration he made (if we really believe what the Bible says regarding nothing happening without Him allowing it, that is!)  So if the Lord of Heaven and earth allowed these Providential circumstances, why should we grumble?


On the other hand, Scripture nowhere says we are even to REMEMBER Jesus's birthday (though it tells us to remember His DEATH till He comes)...in fact, the Bible never even explicitly tells us when Jesus's birthday WAS, so how can we remember it (Lol)?? Now, I am not saying that it's wrong to celebrate Christmas, by the way....only that no one should get on Trump's case for A Day of Mourning regarding a worthy, fallen President who passed away in the Christmas Season.  There are far BETTER things to criticize him for, but this (in my opinion) is a decision that is a great one.  And the Bible nowhere says we SHOULDN'T celebrate Christmas, EITHER so let everyone be fully persuaded in his own mind and live before God.

But if we can't stand a one day "intermission" from The Christmas Season, there's something wrong with US, not with the President who called for it, is my point.


In closing, I only wish President Trump would call for a national Day of Mourning regarding America's SINS, but that's a Chetitorial for another time, Lord Willing!

"Bush, Part 3: President Bush And The True Meaning of Christmas"

Years ago, when his son was President, Sean Hannity asked the late President "Bush 41" a question.

The question went something like "Which was worse, when YOU were unfairly criticized as President, or when your SON is?"  I admired the transparent and honest answer "Bush 41" (above on left) gave.  He essentially said it was harder for him to watch helplessly as his SON was unfairly criticized, and this helped me understand the true meaning of Christmas and why John 3:16 says that "God (the Father) so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus) " so that all who believe on Him might receive eternal life.

You see, if it pained the late President "Bush 41" to see his SON unfairly treated by critics more than it hurt HIM to be slandered, imagine how it hurt God the Father to watch Jesus slandered, rejected, persecuted, tortured and ultimately MURDERED.  And remember, GOD can even read people's hateful THOUGHTS about His Son and He knew in advance the painful death His Son would die. "Bush 41" did not WILLINGLY witness his son's sufferings, nor could he see them ahead of time with crystal clarity like God the Father could.

And unlike President "Bush 43," the Lord Jesus Christ was SINLESS and so every single negative word spoken against HIM by sinners was 100% unjustified. Jesus came into the world to save sinners who rejected His Father's love and this is PART of the real meaning of Christmas, for sure.  But the OTHER part is the love of God the Father Who was hurt even WORSE by watching what his son went through. "Bush 41" and HIS pain is only a small, imperfect reflection of that.

I admire President "Bush 41" for his openness and the REAL LOVE he had for his family, ESPECIALLY Barbara and George W. (above on right), otherwise known as "Bush 43."

And when I meet Him in Heaven one day, I may just thank the late President for helping me to understand more of the love of God the Father for me and the True Meaning of Christmas.

"Bush, Part 2: Some Interesting (I hope) Items About His Life"

By now, we've all seen, heard or read lots about the life and many achievements of President Bush, who died 3 days ago. Here's some things I thought of,  items which you may NOT have heard.


1.) BUSH WAS THE OLDEST LIVING EX-PRESIDENT WHEN HE LEFT US, BUT PRESIDENT CARTER MAY BREAK HIS RECORD.  When President Reagan died in 2004, he was 93 and thus the oldest living ex-President in our nation's history.  However, he was surpassed by President Ford in 2006, as Ford was just a few months older than Reagan was.   Then, President Bush surpassed BOTH of his fellow Republicans about a year ago.  He was 94 when he died Friday..

However!  If President CARTER, a Democrat, lives approximately 4  and a half more months, HE will be the oldest living ex-President in our nation's history and the other surviving ex-Presidents (and President TRUMP) would have to live many, many years to eclipse him. Weird how ex-Presidents are living longer and longer, and it's almost as if they compete with one another now for this distinction.




2.) IT IS VERIFIED THAT BUSH CONSIDERED ASKING CLINT EASTWOOD TO RUN AS HIS VICE PRESIDENT, IN 1988.  Clint, at that time was the Republican mayor of Carmel, California and by the way he had released his FIFTH "Dirty Harry" movie that summer ("Dirty Harry" was a vigilante cop known for use of excessive force.) See, Bush's Presidential campaign was sagging, and his team momentarily thought of Clint (then settling, eventually, for Dan Quayle in the Veep slot) to energize the ticket.

Bush and Quayle WON the 1988 election, but imagine if Clint DID come in as Bush's Vice President?! Remember, in his 1989 Inauguration speech, President Bush promised "A Kinder, Gentler Nation"....could he have promised THAT with a straight face, standing next to "Dirty Harry" (Lol)??  By the way, Clint's NEW movie, "The Mule," debuts on December 14th.  The movie he starred in back 30 years ago when Bush considered him, was called "The Dead Pool."




3.) PRESIDENT BUSH CAME TO VISIT MY HOMETOWN OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY IN 1989.  His helicopter landed within walking distance of our place, and Beth and I took our homeschooled kids to see him on a chilly, November afternoon.

The KIDS were then old enough to be impressed, but my wife and I were a bit spoiled I guess.  You see, four years PRIOR to that, President REAGAN visited our hometown, and we heard HIM speak. (Reagan had just won re-election winning 49 of 50 states, when we saw him in June 1985.)

We respected President Bush but honestly, after seeing the charismatic, charming REAGAN it wasn't as amazing as it might have been, to see Bush (Bush was Reagan's Vice President from '81-'89.)




4.)  WHAT AN INCREDIBLE LOVE STORY THE BUSHES HAD!!  Of the many celebs who've died this year, these are the ones I remember...Billy Graham, Barabara Bush, Aretha, John McCain, Willie McCovey, Stan Lee and now President Bush. The Bushes were the only COUPLE on that list who died "together" in 2018, but after all, they had been married over 70 years and one could not live without the other, it seems. How ROMANTIC!!

One of my first pastors died at age 99 a few months after HIS wife of 70-plus years went home to Heaven, in that same year.  He had NO desire to continue on without her by his side....like BUSH.




5.)  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?? LOL President Bush died last Friday and the ORDINARY time for mourning a common citizen in modern-day America is three days. Well, three days in this case would be Saturday the 1st, Sunday the 2nd and today (Monday, December 3rd.) But, for whatever it's worth, THIS MONTH IS VERY UNUSUAL...it has 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays and 5 Mondays...I am told this will not happen again in our lifetimes.  What does it mean?? How does it apply to President Bush?? (I don't know, but someone e-mailed me the five Saturdays five Sundays five Mondays deal and I wanted to work it in somehow, Lol!!)

6.) Finally, I PUT THIS SIGN UP THE DAY BEFORE BUSH DIED, NOT KNOWING HIS DEATH WAS IMMINENT. Note the "Finite Man" part...was this sign meant to be "a SIGN" (Lol) to someone?? Lol, but seriously ALL of us will leave this world one day.  A 41 year old woman died raking her leaves in our town a few days prior to "Bush 41" dying at age 94.  If Presidents can die, why can't WE??  The important thing is to be ready by having your sins forgiven and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, as it is said that President BUSH did.  

BE READY.  Get saved, if you aren't because in eternity, nothing else matters but that!!

"Bush"

In honor of President Bush, today's blog, already written, will be POSTPONED instead of POSTED.   See you Monday, Lord Willing!!