"God's Faithfulness to Me in This Past Decade"

When 2019 ends in a few days, it won't just be the end of a YEAR but of a DECADE.  And, I gave some thought to how my life has changed since January 1st of 2010, and how God has BLESSED me in spite of many trials. 

On January 1st, 2010, I was still hurting from the death of my dad one week earlier.  Beth, my first wife, and I were living in North Jersey, her two elderly parents were living with us, and one of our three kids, my son JOEL, was still living at home.  We had no Grandchildren at that point but in March, God gave us our first GRANDSON, Christopher.

My business of 31 years was struggling and I was hoping that Barack Obama would be voted OUT of office in 2012, as I blamed his attacks on entrepreneurs for my decline, but that did not happen...he was re-elected. If Donald Trump ran and got elected in 2012 like he was in 2016, I'd probably STILL BE IN BUSINESS until this coming February, when I turn 65!! But as you will see, it all worked out as God wanted, I wouldn't be where I am today if NOT for things unfolding as they did.  Back to the past...my Father-in-Law went Home to Heaven in 2011 and in 2013, I went OUT of business, retired early, and my wife and I (and my Mother-in-Law) moved to Central Jersey...Joel stayed behind and got married.

My Mother-in-Law died in 2014 and a few months later BETH began a two-year struggle with Cancer which sent her Home, in early 2017.  So seven years after the decade began, Beth and my In-Laws, who I lived with to BEGIN the decade, were in Heaven and I was "alone," far from the area of New Jersey I had lived almost all of my life. However, I was once again joined to an EXCELLENT church and had THAT support system, as well as that of my three (saved) children.

Today, as the decade ENDS in a few days I have remarried a WONDERFUL wife, Mercedes, and I have two step-children from that second marriage to go with my three CHILDREN and now FIVE Grandchildren (another one due in June 2020.)  Retirement has afforded me time to say "Yes" when the Pastor asked me to take the Men's Sunday School a few years ago and when the church called me to be a Deacon early THIS year.  In short, my life has been totally re-directed by God's Providences since 2010 but that's what He PROMISED He would do for His children....GUIDE us. In February 2020, Lord Willing, as I said I will OFFICIALLY be a Senior when I turn 65 and I'm a little nervous about THAT...but God WILL be faithful in the FUTURE as He HAS been in the past.  I have had NO major health crises in my life but more than likely, I will at SOME point before I go to Heaven by God's Grace.  If God can get me through being a widower and losing my cherished business, He can bless me through bad health IF it comes to me.

And that's why it's good to remember His PAST mercies and that, as a famous hymn says, He IS "Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come"!! As another great hymn says, "in all life's changes faithful He will remain." Amen!!

"Imus"

I was disgusted at the headline of this article regarding the death of radio shock jock DON IMUS...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/don-imus-racist-radio-show-host-dead-222749472.html

The headline identifies him as a racist, within 24 hours of his death, and that just ticks me off.  Here's why.

     1.) Whether Don Imus was a racist or not, I cannot say...I never listened to his show LONG ENOUGH to make a determination. I was not a fan of his.  I will concede that some things which are quoted here in this article SOUND racist, but I don't know the context in which these jokes were said. Still, who ever heard of a celebrity being called "racist" in the headline announcing their death, as if that trumps all of their accomplishments?? Do they do this for racist MINORITY celebrities who die?  When Al Sharpton passes, I'll be waiting to see what HIS headline says (if the Lord wills that I live so long)...but I won't be holding my breath waiting, to see if HE will be called "racist."  That (holding my breath like that) will only serve to hasten MY demise, Lol!!  But if ever there was a "racist," Al Sharpton IS one....it's just that he's a black racist so he gets, and will get, a free pass.

When poet Imamu Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones) died here in my native New Jersey, no headline called HIM "racist" but if ever there was a racist and anti-Semite, it was Baraka. And I could multiply examples if I wanted to.



     2.) The HuffPost article in the link above fails to mention that Imus APOLOGIZED for what he said that time about the Rutgers women's basketball team, here in Jersey.  He apologized, even though black rappers call black women "hos" ALL THE TIME with impunity, Imus APOLOGIZED and the Liberals apparently can STILL never forgive him. And whatever happened to "don't speak ill of the dead," pray tell??!!  I mean, THE GUY JUST DIED, couldn't the HuffPost (and yahoo news) wait at least a DAY until they ran an article identifying him as a "racist," if they MUST go that route?? And couldn't they at least mention that the guy APOLOGIZED for what he said??

     3.) I'm wondering if this (the way Imus is getting tagged as "racist") is another way the Liberal Mainstream Media is trying to make white men (who apparently comprised MOST of Imus's audience) feel guilty or diminished, because they listened to him and liked him?? Well, I'm a white man who DIDN'T listen to Imus and who ISN'T a racist yet who is MAD at the hypocrisy and double-standard that exists. As a young man I rallied on behalf of equal rights for BLACKS, and now that the Pendulum has swung too far the other way, in my old age I'm going to defend WHITE MEN.

In conclusion, I was offended at Imus's cracks about Christianity AND his sexual "humor," the few times I listened to his show for a few minutes.  I turned him off because HE turned ME off. Unless something happened on his deathbed that is not being made public, Mr. Imus has a LOT to answer for regarding the way he used his God-given talent to communicate in ways that Scripture teaches God disapproves of and will judge.  I tremble for his SOUL.

But if Don Imus was black and made the same jokes about WHITES, we all know that the White Guiltridden Liberals would give him a free pass about it, and the headline of that link above would NOT have the word "racist" in it.  That stuff (the double-standard) happens all the time, but it's simply not right.

"Our Ten Commandments Contrasted with 100"

A week ago today, our new local paper carried another article by the local Muslim "scholar." It is a full-page piece entitled "The Quran 100 Commandments and Doctrines," and even though it's doubtful that Islam really HAS these "100 Commandments" it made me appreciate Christianity's TEN Commandments so much more!!  I don't think I've ever realized how precious "our" Commandments are, and even though the "scholar" listed TEN times as many of what he calls the Quran's "Commandments," I'll stick with "my" Ten ANYday.  Here's why.

In a nutshell, this article and summary is intended to deceive gullible Christians as to the true nature of Islam and make it attractive in the process. The gist of it is that if you somehow keep all 100 of these "Commandments," Allah will accept you.  On the other side, "MY" Commandments are only TEN and they show me that I cannot be right with God based on keeping them, when I truly understand what those Ten (and the holy God Who GAVE them) require of me. They lead me to the TRUTH...namely, that I need a Savior, One Who perfectly kept ALL of God's Commandments FOR me.

That's the first (and foremost) reason "our" Ten Commandments surpass the 100.

The SECOND reason is that "my" Ten leave no room for the sin of LYING in order to try to win converts.  We do not attempt to do the Lord's work using Satan's tools, we do not "transform ourselves into "angels of light" to reach the lost, OUR book does not sanction that.

Yes, SOME of these Islamic "Commandments," as the writer summarized them, are VERY similar to CHRISTIANITY'S Ten shown in the picture above.  For example, #43, based on how the "scholar" interprets Quran 17:32, says "Do not commit adultery" just like Commandment #7 (shown above.)  However, I googled some of the OTHER Quran references and they do NOT say what the scholar SAYS they say, plain and simple.  There is deceit, lying and half-truths (and as we know, "a half truth presented as the whole truth becomes an UNtruth") in the author's summaries.  Only TWO of his interpretations of the 100 "Commandments and Doctrines" that he cited deal with honesty and deceit...#19 says "Do not mix the truth with falsehood" (shouldn't that be the other way around, though?) and #58 says "Be honest; don't cheat in any of your dealings" which seemingly refers to Muslim-to-Muslim interactions. 

The "scholar" studiously avoided commenting on THESE sections of the Quran...2:225, 3:28, 3:54, 9:3, 16:106, 40:28, 66:2.  You see,  I happen to know that Islam has teachings called TAQIYYA and KITMAN which condone deception and lying and conveying half-truths  to "infidels," particularly when it involves promoting or protecting Islam.  These doctrines are found in THOSE verses. And isn't that what THIS "scholar" is doing by sugarcoating Islamic teachings, interpreting them to SOUND a bit like Christian teachings as he promotes false religion in what is a heavily.....Christian community??

I much prefer the TEN COMMANDMENTS, where #9 says plainly "Don't bear false witness."  The simple beauty and pristeen CLARITY of that statement lets me know that any Christian "scholar" who writes about THOSE Ten sees no warrant to lie based on the BIBLE (like the Muslim man sees warrant in HIS "Holy Book.").  Christianity is THE TRUTH and must only be propagated by PROMOTING truth.  Those who lie to try to "sell" others to join them can only OFFER lies as their "product" they are "selling."

Our straightforward TEN Commandments forbid us to lie to promote the religion of The One Who said He alone is "The Way, the TRUTH, and The Life, no man comes to the Father but by Him" (John 14:6.)  And NO ONE can be saved by keeping the Commandments!!

"Democrats: Impeach Trump AGAIN!!-----Dershowitz: Pelosi Abusing Power"

The Democrats have vowed to Impeach President Trump AGAIN, believe it or not!!  This is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "excuse" for DELAYING sending the FIRST two Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for a TRIAL....she claims she has NEW evidence that will lead to new CHARGES.

But Alan Dershowitz, (a DEMOCRAT and one of the finest legal minds in the country), takes strong exception to this, saying Pelosi is "abusing her power" and "obstructing the SENATE" from doing THEIR job (until the Articles from the FIRST bogus Impeachment are submitted, they are not even technically OFFICIAL, you see.)

As I've mentioned here a few times, I've been reading Dershowitz's new book "Guilt by Accusation."  In that book, Dershowitz, who was falsely accused of sexual misconduct, pointed out how Liberals like to publicly ACCUSE innocent men of crimes and then deny them the chance to defend themselves via legal technicalities (hoping they'll settle out-of-court). I call this wicked strategy "Shake 'Em Up and Shake 'Em Down."

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, though Trump is not being accused of SEXUAL misconduct.  He's been CHARGED with removal-from-office-worthy "crimes" by the House and Pelosi is STALLING the Senate trial so he cannot CLEAR himself.  She knows the Senate will ACQUIT him so she wants to leave it at "Guilt by Accusation" in the court of public opinion, perhaps hoping Trump will resign.  Dershowitz, WHO VOTED FOR HILLARY CLINTON IN 2016, is seeing that PELOSI is doing to TRUMP what HIS accuser tried to do to HIM, until he wrote this book which proves HIS innocence beyond a shadow of a doubt, that is.  This book is GREAT!!

I close by reproducing two Facebook updates I wrote (slightly edited)  since my last BLOG.

This one is from Christmas EVE...it regards this whole concept of impeaching Trump AGAIN and adding to the charges....

Me:  THEY NEVER GIVE UP, Lol!! In a virtual actions-speak-louder-than-words admission that their first attempt IS an "Impotent Impeachment" as I've been saying all along, the Democrats want to now ADD to the FIRST bogus Impeachment charges!! Lol, what a bunch of BUMBLERS, Lol!!

Mind you, I can't accurately call this bogus "Impeachment" a "Rush to Judgment" because it's the SENATE that "judges," but I can SURELY label this a "Rush to IMPEACH" on the part of the Democrats in the HOUSE. And Scripture says that those who are hasty often SIN. Without a doubt, if the two Articles of this bogus first Impeachment weren't enough the FIRST time out, the hatred-driven Democrats WERE hasty.....they treated this whole process like a GROCERY LIST and they're adding on bananas or a quart of milk which they'd forgotten when the list initially got scribbled down.

And why DO they hate President Trump so much?? A guy named STEVE HILTON said it best on his FoxNews show Saturday night. "They thought that a Trump presidency was unthinkable. When it happened, they were certain it would be unsuccessful. And when it did succeed, they found that absolutely unbearable. That is why Donald Trump is being impeached." THERE IS NOTHING BUT HATRED DRIVING THIS IMPEACHMENT, which is why the Dems keep bungling it.

And THIS is from Christmas NIGHT, regarding some things Dershowitz has said....

Me:  Dershowitz has tremendous credibility because he voted for Hillary. And, his Liberal friends aren't going to like his impartial, objective analysis!! But he knows his stuff (read what he says in the link below)!!

One of the most respected legal minds in America who voted for Hillary Clinton says the U.S. Senate doesn't have to wait for the House to deliver its articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to hold its trial and resolve the matter once and for all. "I believe that the Senate need not....

WND.COM

Political bombshell: Senate 'need not wait' on House to hold Trump impeachment trial - WND

One of the most respected legal minds in America who voted for Hillary Clinton says the U.S. Senate doesn't have to wait for the House to deliver its articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to hold its trial and resolve the matter once and for all. "I believe that the Senate need not....

"Billy / Impeachment Updates"

Tomorrow, Christmas Day, will be 30 years since 5 time Yankee manager BILLY MARTIN was killed in a drunken car crash.  It seems hard to believe that that much time has passed. Tomorrow is also TEN years since my DAD died.  I've said all I need to say about Dad in my Dec. 18th blog last week but I just want to add this: As far as selfish, self-destructive tendencies went, the two were very, very much alike. Both Billy and my Dad were heavy drinkers.

Yes, Billy Martin was a PLAYER for the Yankees (and other teams) and a MANAGER for the Yankees (and other teams), but the Yanks were his FAVORITE team.  And as I said, he was hired 5 separate times as Yankee manager and would have been rehired AGAIN, if not for his death.  The reason he was fired so many times was his DRINKING.  But the reason he was RE-hired so many times is that, when sober, Billy was a managerial GENIUS.

He was a genius regarding BASEBALL, but sadly, he couldn't see what was happening to him OFF the field. Only a few weeks before he got killed, Billy was in a bar and someone's gun went off.  Reports say that the bullet narrowly missed his head, but he was spared. THAT should have been a warning to him, it WAS a warning, from God (I believe), to knock off the drinking and GET HELP.  But Billy didn't listen, KEPT drinking and it literally killed him.

This spring I read a great book by Bill Pennington, "Billy Martin, Baseball's Flawed Genius." I loved Billy Martin for his managerial strategies and desire to WIN, but instead of being lauded and applauded for THAT he should be held forth as an example of how DRUNKENNESS CAN KILL YOU, SLOWLY OR QUICKLY.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, PLEASE!!

Now...more about the "Impotent Impeachment" (Things I've posted recently on Facebook)...

Posted on Facebook on the 21st, my five recent blogs about this bogus "Impeachment"...

1.) 12 / 12---Why the Senate will never remove Trump
http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/…/the-impeachment-fiasco-an…

2.) 12 / 13---Why some Dem Senators should recuse themselves if it goes to Trial
http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/…/does-fairness-matter-any-…

3.) 12 / 15---Democrat Senator Switches to Republican because of Impeachment Fiasco
http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/…/democrat-deserting-sinkin…

4.) 12 / 20---The “Impotent Impeachment” HAPPENS but now Pelosi refuses to make it official…
http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/…/the-impeachment-fiasco-pa…

5.) 12 / 21---Nancy runs away and REFUSES to make this bogus Impeachment official!! It DOESN'T COUNT UNTIL SHE PRESENTS THE ARTICLES TO THE SENATE....
http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/…/pelosi-and-galli-guilty-o…

From Facebook, Dec. 22nd....Alan Dershowitz's new book "GUILT BY ACCUSATION" is sheer brilliance!! It's about bogus sexual harassment claims in the age of MeToo but Nancy Pelosi is employing the same tactic with this bogus Impeachment Fiasco. She wants Trump to be found guilty SIMPLY because he's been accused, and she wants to avert a Senate trial because the EVIDENCE will find him INNOCENT.

From Facebook, Dec. 23rd (yesterday)....I like to keep it simple. The way I see it, anyone who was too scared or blind or prejudiced to see where OBAMA should have been impeached has no right to be on TRUMP'S case. You may have credibility with me in OTHER areas, but in that matter of Trump's "Impotent Impeachment"?? If I didn't hear you speak out about OBAMA I am not interested in what you say NOW.

You can TRY, but it won't FLY......not in MY sky.

....

"Pelosi and Galli: Guilty of H.A.R.P. (Hit-and-Run Politics)"

So...the politicians have gone home for the Holidays and Nancy Pelosi has STILL not delivered the Articles of Impeachment to the House!!  Technically, President Trump is not OFFICIALLY impeached until she DOES (see my last blog), but, thanks to the Liberal media people are left with the IMPRESSION that he is. This, of course, is a nothing but a deliberate smear on his character that Pelosi says she won't even ATTEMPT to rectify by enabling a Senate trial until at least JANUARY, when the politicians return to Washington.

I call this H.A.R.P. (Hit-and-Run Politics) and Pelosi is not the ONLY Liberal guilty of it.

Just the other day, the Editor-in-Chief of "Christianity Today," Mark Galli, wrote a piece saying Trump should be removed from office, referring to that same "Impotent Impeachment" which, technically, has not even happened.  Galli invoked the name of BILLY GRAHAM, who started the magazine many years ago, and blasted Christians who support President Trump (such as me) in his editorial.  Like Pelosi, Galli did this ON HIS WAY OUT because he is retiring as Editor-in-Chief of the magazine as of January 1st. (MORE "Hit-and-Run Politics.")

Galli's Christian-bashing editorial has delighted many unsaved people...an ATHEIST friend of mine called me to tell me the liberal New York Times republished it!! Those "endorsements" told me all I needed to know, but...there's MORE.  You see, Billy Graham's son FRANKLIN GRAHAM wrote a great response to that Galli article, saying his dad VOTED for President Trump and would be disappointed in what Galli wrote.  Here's that link....

https://www.faithwire.com/2019/12/20/my-father-would-have-been-disappointed-franklin-graham-blasts-christianity-todays-call-to-remove-trump/?fbclid=IwAR050Lmm0FVlf-UNU3YlG5_OzrO-2NyKy7fxaouys9A-d8Zj2e_l-LF1srQ

I'll stick with FRANKLIN here....unlike Pelosi he finishes what he starts because he starts GOOD things.

And, unlike Galli, he is NOT a liberal who is retiring from all that HE does, in less than two weeks. He's a solid Christian CONSERVATIVE.  Read his response to Galli....it's brilliant!!

"Hit-and-Run Politics" is despicable, but, 9 times out of 10, it's what Liberals do.








EDIT: JAMES DOBSON agrees with Graham about the "Christianity Today" hit piece....."I have read a new editorial published by Christianity Today that promotes impeachment of President Donald Trump. The editors didn’t tell us who should take his place in the aftermath. Maybe the magazine would prefer a president who is passionately pro-abortion, anti-family, hostile to the military, dispassionate toward Israel, supports a socialist form of government, promotes confiscatory taxation, opposes school choice, favors men in women’s sports and boys in girl’s locker rooms, promotes the entire LGBTQ agenda, opposes parental rights, and distrusts evangelicals and anyone who is not politically correct. By the way, after Christianity Today has helped vacate the Oval Office, I hope they will tell us if their candidate to replace Mr. Trump will fight for religious liberty and the Bill of Rights? Give your readers a little more clarity on why President Trump should be turned out of office after being duly elected by 63 million voters? Is it really because he made a phone call that displeased you? There must be more to your argument than that. While Christianity Today is making its case for impeachment, I hope the editors will now tell us who they support for president among the Democrat field. That should tell us the rest of the story." - Dr. James Dobson

"The Impeachment Fiasco, Part 2 (The 'Impotent Impeachment')"

Usually, a Science-Fictiony channel runs a TWILIGHT ZONE marathon around New Years each year, often lasting 2 or 3 days.  But THIS year, a Twilight Zone marathon is airing before CHRISTMAS and it's on all of our "news" channels.....with NO end in sight!!  I refer to THE IMPEACHMENT FIASCO (this is my SECOND blog with this title, to see the FIRST one, check my 12/12 blog.)

Yes, welcome to THE IMPEACHMENT FIASCO, Part 2, a.k.a. Twilight Zone Marathon 2019.  Only instead of the late, great ROD SERLING we have NANCY PELOSI (pictured above) as our "guide."

Above is the front page of The New York Post (yesterday's edition.) The night before, you see, President Trump was IMPEACHED...or WAS he?? (We'll get back to that in a moment.) Anyway, note that the phony Pelosi dressed in BLACK as if she's SAD to have impeached the President. And note that the front page of a paper in the country's MOST liberal city is basically saying that her efforts will BACKFIRE on her and the entire Democrat Party, in 2020!! Those turkeys voted for Trump to get re-elected IN A LANDSLIDE, with this IMPOTENT IMPEACHMENT. (Ol' Nancy didn't count on being mocked THAT way, in a NEW YORK paper.)

If the Dems were capable of honesty, let's face it, THIS is what those two bogus Articles of Impeachment WOULD have looked like....

Anyway, AFTER that front page of the Post yesterday, it got weirder.  PELOSI DECIDED THAT SHE WILL NOT HAVE THE ARTICLES DELIVERED TO THE SENATE FOR A TRIAL UNTIL IT'S A "FAIR" ONE...IN OTHER WORDS, UNTIL SHE'S ASSURED THAT THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE WILL AGREE WITH HER IMPEACHMENT FIASCO, AND REMOVE THE PRESIDENT.

Let's face it, her REAL reason for this nutty delay is that she's SCARED of being humiliated FURTHER...because the Republicans will NEVER remove Trump based on THIS travesty.

Not only do the Republicans have a SIGNIFICANT edge in the Senate, but there's the whole issue, which I raised last week, of whether the 3 Democrat Senators who may be running AGAINST Trump in 2020 should RECUSE themselves (read my 12 /13 blog.)

Then, we have a Dem Senator who just became a Republican BECAUSE of this bogus Impeachment (see my 12/15 blog.)  That's 3 or 4 LESS Dems to vote against removing Trump if Booker, Warren and Harris ARE forced to recuse!!  PELOSI KNOWS THE SENATE WILL NOT RATIFY WHAT THE HOUSE HAS DONE, THEY WILL NOT REMOVE TRUMP AND SO THAT'S WHY, AS OF TODAY, SHE HAS NOT BROUGHT THE ARTICLES TO THE SENATE.  And, (dig this)....the House's Impeachment, according to many sources, is not official until she DOES deliver the Articles!!  That means that TRUMP IS NOT YET IMPEACHED, THE NEW YORK POST (AND ANY) HEADLINE FROM YESTERDAY WHICH CLAIMS THAT HE IS IMPEACHED IS "FAKE NEWS."  If you see a copy of a paper from yesterday which says "Impeached" GRAB IT, it may be another "Dewey Beats Truman" or "Gore Beats Bush" collector's item.

I do not feel sorry for NANCY PELOSI or the three women in "The Squad" who put her up to this Impeachment Fiasco. Pelosi is the most powerful woman in America's political history to this point, and the way she has BLOWN this, and IS blowing it, guarantees that there will be NO WOMAN PRESIDENT IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 50 YEARS.  It's not FAIR that all women should be judged by the "test case" of Pelosi, but that's the sad reality.  I feel bad for the good (REPUBLICAN) women who won't be given a shot because of this irrational, power-hungry, feelings-driven phony witch.

But looking on the BRIGHT side, we can thank God that Trump DID beat Hillary in 2016!! If you think PELOSI is bad as SPEAKER imagine what HILLARY would've been like as PRESIDENT!!

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2019/12/19/professor-who-testified-for-democrats-just-so-you-know-trump-isnt-impeached-until-pelosi-tells-the-senate-n2558325

"I Knew Cicely Tyson Back When She Would 'Only' Have Been 86 Today"

Today is Cicely Tyson's 95th birthday.  On Facebook, it is also "Throwback Thursday" so I thought I'd take a trip down Memory Lane and recall 7 times when I heard her, LIVE, misrepresent  how old she was...and I believed her (as did many others.)

You see, for a ten year period, from 2002-2012, my first wife (now deceased) and I visited the Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts when we lived in Northern New Jersey.  I had been a big fan of Tyson for 30 years in 2002, so when they started Open Houses, we went and I was delighted to meet the screen legend known for taking roles of noble, principled women. (By the way, the photo above is from her GREAT Christmas movie, "Ms. Scrooge" in which Tyson played "Ebenita Scrooge."  Ebenita started out IGNOBLE, but ENDED UP noble, just like the Dickens "Christmas Carol" character.)

Now, at the time Beth and I started visiting there, the Tyson School was in an old building in East Orange, a little less than four miles from where we lived. Every year around December 19th, Ms. Tyson was present at the Open House, her birthday was celebrated, and she gave a little speech to a packed audience (I have several of her speeches on 8mm videotapes that I filmed.)

In 2004, I know NOW that Tyson lied and told the audience (of mostly young, impressionable students who considered her the Matriarch of the school which bore her name) that she was 71 that day....meaning she'd be 86, not 95, today if she was telling the truth then.

In 2005, she told us she was turning 72....meaning she'd be 86 today, not 95.

In 2006, she lied and told us she was turning 73....meaning she'd be 86 today, not 95.

In 2007, she told us she was turning 74....meaning she'd be 86 today, not 95.

In 2008, once again, she told us she had just turned 75....meaning she'd be 86 today, not 95 as she now claims. And again, I was personally there for ALL of these occasions.

In 2009, the Tyson School moved to a brand new, 140 million dollar facility, ALSO in East Orange.

The new Tyson School opened on 9-9-'09 and there apparently wasn't enough organization yet to have the annual birthday party in December '09, because I never got my usual invite.  (Even if I had received one, I couldn't have gone, anyway as my dad was near death.)

But anyway, in 2010 there WAS a birthday celebration again, and Ms. Tyson announced to all of us that she was 77 that very day, Dec. 19th, when she wasn't. This means that the premeditated lies CONTINUED, even though she had a year off to think about her pattern of lies and to STOP lying.

Sadly, the same old lie was being told in her BRAND NEW SCHOOL.

I was sick in December 2011, but in 2012 I went to the School and Ms. Tyson announced it was to be her 79th birthday in three days, meaning she'd be 86 today, not 95, if she was telling the truth.

My wife Beth and I moved an hour-and-a-half south in September 2013 and I haven't been back to the School now for 7 years.  I have no idea if Tyson continued to lie about her age if and when they celebrated her birthday at the School those next five years, after we moved away.

But that was a total of SEVEN TIMES Ms.Tyson publicly lied to her students about her age when I was present, and we all believed her. And then LAST NOVEMBER, 2018, Tyson publicly admitted to the entire world that she's 9 years OLDER than what she let on to many of us PRIVATELY for all of those years.  I wrote about that revelation HERE....

http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/2018/11/thank-god-for-things-he-didnt-give-you.html

I felt, and feel betrayed and lied to, and, if Beth were still alive she would SHARE my outrage. Beth home schooled OUR kids and taught them to speak TRUTH, by her words AND example.  Ms. Tyson betrayed all of the students in HER School and taught them, by example, to lie.  I once defended Tyson as being a Democrat with integrity and I defended her Christian profession from those who doubted it (Beth was one of those).  When I remarried MERCEDES, she told me Tyson was lying about her age but I defended Tyson, saying the rumors of her being born in 1924 were wrong because I personally heard her say, in essence, that she was born 9 years later, in 1933. So that's why, even though she professes to be 95 today, I wrote and titled this piece "I Knew Cicely Tyson Back When She Would 'Only' Have Been 86 Today." Unlike Ms. Scrooge, Ms. Tyson started out to be NOBLE but she became IGNOBLE near the end, in my estimation.  But it's not just me.....GOD is against those who habitually lie, ALSO because He is a God of TRUTH.  Jesus said the TRUTH (not lies) will set us free, and the Bible says SATAN is the Father of Lies. God will send unrepentant, habitual liars to BE with Satan forever, if they don't turn from that sin before they pass.

Now...is Cicely Tyson the ONLY actor who's ever lied about their age?? Of course not, but to lie to your STUDENTS who ADMIRE you, in a School named after you because people respect your image of integrity is, frankly, despicable. And A.) I can prove everything I've asserted in these blogs and B.) I now see there may well have been OTHER lies that I witnessed in my visits to that School...lies with even WORSE implications, lies that Tyson would NOT want to come out. I mean, if you'll lie about your age, did you tell premeditated lies to help you get that first School renamed after YOU in the first place?? Interesting that TYSON (who never lived in East Orange) got an East Orange School renamed after her in 1995 and DIONNE WARWICK (who was BORN in East Orange) had an East Orange School named after her, in 1997. I look back and remember hearing it said at the Tyson School Open Houses that the deciding factor in Ms. Tyson "allowing" the School to be named after her was that she (supposedly) "visited her Aunt in East Orange once a year starting when she was 6 years old."

REALLY?? Are we sure this really happened, are we sure she wasn't.............15 at the time??







NOTE: THIS BLOG OMITS MS. TYSON'S PRIVATE CELEBRATION AT HER SCHOOL OF WHAT WAS ALLEGEDLY HER 70th BIRTHDAY ON DEC. 19th, 2003.  THAT'S BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I WAS INVITED, I DID NOT ATTEND THAT PARTY IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.  I ONLY ATTENDED THE SEVEN OTHER OCCASIONS (2004-2012) LISTED IN PARAGRAPHS 4-13 OF THIS BLOG. THOSE TOOK PLACE IN THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.

"Pictures Worth 1,000 Words"

In one week, Christmas Day, it will be ten years since my dad died.  We had a very, very painful relationship, and I loved him very much.  That's Dad on the left and me on the right...I deliberately chose old photos of us that express the alienation that was between us. I also deliberately chose photos where I was older than he was.  These are "Pictures Worth 1,000 Words," at least to ME they are....pictures which express things I feel.

The thing that pains me the MOST about my father right now is that he went to his deathbed rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior.

THIS blog you are reading is mostly  PHOTOS, but I wrote a short book about my dad which expresses a lot of the pain I feel IN WORDS.  Here is a link for a free preview of the ENTIRE BOOK, which was written in 2010, when this photo of me was taken.  Just cut-and-paste the link below in your browser, and when the book appears, put the mouse on each page to forward it to the NEXT page. I hope this book helps someone ELSE struggling with the pain of "losing the lost," even as God's Word helped ME.

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

"Guest Blogger: My Wife, Part II"

(As she did on May 16th of this year, my wife Mercedes wrote a BRILLIANT Facebook post that I'm reprinting here, with her permission.)

"Pretty soon being a natural born citizen of the United States of America will prevent those born here from getting services that are granted to ILLEGAL immigrants with no problem.  If Trenton has its way in NJ, ILLEGAL immigrants will be able to get drivers licenses (and convicted felons will will have fewer consequences for their crimes, but I won't get into that now). Of course this will allow ILLEGAL immigrants to vote, among other things. They can just waltz into this country and get health insurance, housing, food stamps and more while Veterans, families with children, and disabled people (especially the mentally ill), are homeless and in need of assistance from our government. These people are being penalized for being American citizens. It's wrong, not fair and in my opinion politically motivated. 

"Look at your home. Would you let your child be hungry and homeless while allowing an ILLEGAL immigrant to live in your home rent free, with food, clothing and shelter provided at your expense? Be honest. Of course not. You wouldn't do that for a United States born Citizen! This country is OUR HOME and government money comes from taxes that WE PAY AND WILL PAY MORE OF!! Nothing is free and believe me, the 1% are not giving up 50 % of their paychecks to make our lives or the lives of ILLEGAL immigrants better. (OUR government is made up of the 1%-2%, by the way. They are not middle class people.) You can't compare 2019 to 50, 60, or 70 years ago or longer.  America was different then. And we didn't have a deficit in the trillions then. 

"And in case you didn't know, "The New Colossus" (""Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, etc) was NEVER a national motto, NEVER an invitation from our government, nor was it a promise to people who illegally cross our borders, not even when it was written.  It was written to raise money for a pedestal for the statue of liberty. It was part of a fundraiser and like ALL fundraisers, was written to tug at peoples' heartstrings to motivate them to donate money. I don't think that the National Park Service and every other historical source that I checked would lie about this. It's not fake news. 

"No other country that I've been to lets people just walk across their borders, welcome them with open arms, and offer to financially support them and their families ahead of their own citizens. They don't give them the same rights and privileges either. Look at your kids, your grandkids and your great grandkids. If given a choice, who are are you going to support first in your home on your dollar, an ILLEGAL immigrant, or your own blood? Whatever your answer is I think that you shouldn't expect our government to treat ILLEGAL immigrants in our homeland no different than you would in your own home. After all, the United States government will take from you and your family via taxes to pay for it and deny those same services to American born Vets, disabled people, families and children at the same time. I believe that it is in the best interest of our nation to take care of our own citizens FIRST before we start letting people just walk across our borders and be given more assistance and privilege than is given to needy American citizens and Veterans"

"Chetitorializing (Includes "Walgreens" Update)

As usual, I've been CHETITORIALIZING in different places other than HERE, recently....

1.) From my Facebook page (which is set to "Friends Only," it is not "Public.")....

I say this every year around this time of year...EVERYONE IS NOT HAP, HAP, HAPPY SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. In fact, for many, like those who've lost loved ones around the Holidays, the Holidays THEMSELVES trigger a sense of loss and pain. Those of us who ARE cheerful ought to be on the lookout for such and seek to comfort them, or at least PRAY for them. They are all around us, if only we have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that isn't dulled by the preoccupation with giving and getting MATERIAL things.

MOST who are suffering silently are afraid to be known...they don't want to be called "Party Poopers" or "Grinch" or "Scrooge" just because they are SAD when all others are apparently HAPPY. We Christians should ask God for wisdom and discernment to SEE the suffering in our midst and reach out to them in their loneliness. Didn't JESUS leave HEAVEN to meet OUR need, and isn't that why we celebrate Christmas in the first place?? Is it too much for us, then, to leave our festive state of mind for an hour and seek to "Weep with those who weep" in keeping with His Word??

Okay, that's all I have to say for now, except that losing my unsaved dad ten years ago on Christmas Day was a real eye-opener for me as to how someone can be sad but have no one who wants to empathize WITH them "because it's Christmas". I only hope God will use something I've written here to be the eye-opener, and HEART opener, that someone needs. Yes, CHRISTIANS who are suffering ALWAYS have the LORD to go through the valleys WITH them, but never forget the burden He puts on US to "bear one another's burdens" and to "weep with those who weep!!"

EVEN when it's the Christmas Season!!

2.) My car dealer asked for Feedback about my recent experience, as I had my car worked on last week, so I e-mailed THIS...

"I think you should re-evaluate the idea of having a television on, tuned in to network TV, in your common waiting area. While waiting 2 hours for my car, I had to endure the discomfort of listening to Dr. Ruth talk explicitly about sexual relations in the midst of a room with men and women I don't know, total strangers (this was on the "Tamron Hall" talk show). After that, "The View" was discussing President Trump (who I support) and the Impeachment fiasco. It is extremely aggravating to be forced to endure mental midgets' drivel without the ability to talk to the TV, like I would at home.

"The days of needing a TV in a waiting area are over, everyone is on their cells texting or playing games, entertaining ourselves now. These days, television is a distraction and CELL PHONES are the DIVERSION that TV once was. And, in this divisive political climate, I suggest you play a channel that has soothing background music rather than these ridiculous shows from network TV. Thank you."

3.) This is from ANOTHER Facebook post, regarding this link....

https://www.insidernj.com/nj-legislature-approves-drivers-licenses-bill/?fbclid=IwAR3YiuoUZuEnrraXHZChtGR1chTd9bhDH6P9rzSMlESh8niskLDmSouQLAI

Democrat traitors are determined to let criminals (that's what Illegals are....criminals) VOTE in my state. They have taken a big step towards their goal of CREATING new Democrat voters, with this move. Sad thing is, many out-of-touch Christians WELCOME illegals into our state, saying "the Mission field is coming to US"....Christians like that HELP the Democrat traitors, albeit naively.

When CRIMINALS are given the same, or MORE rights than law-abiding citizens and when criminals have a SAY in the voting booth as to the future DIRECTION of a state, that state is DOOMED.






Finally, THIS was my "2019 Letter of the Year" to our weekly paper. Anyone remember THIS?? I took some heat for it, and I've blogged about it here BEFORE...

Just to refresh your memory, Walgreens DENIED they were closing that store  by us,      even putting up signs in their window which caused people from my church and even FAMILY to question the veracity of my info.  However, I stuck to what we had seen on the WALGREENS website (before it was removed) and our TOWN'S website, namely that THAT store was slated for closure.  (A Public Relations rep from Walgreens even wrote to the paper in a carefully worded statement DENYING it.)

Well, recently NATIONAL media has verified that Walgreens is looking to sell ALL of its stores, across the nation!! I feel vindicated but I hope the point of my letter was not lost in the shuffle.

Trenton lawmakers today voted in favor of enabling residents who are not legal residents of New Jersey to obtain driver's licenses.The Walgreens store in question denied they were closing, even posting SIGNS in their window.  This led to some in my church (and family) questioning the veracity of my info, but I stood behind what we once saw on the WALGREENS website, as well as our TOWN'S website.  BOTH said that Walgreens store by us was closing. A public relations rep for Walgreens wrote to the paper a few weeks after MY letter, insisting (in a carefully worded statement) that there were no PRESENT plans to close that Walgreens. Well, recently national media has been carrying stories that Walgreens is trying to sell ALL of its stores, nationwide!!  I feel vindicated in one way but I just hope the POINT of my letter was not lost in the shuffle.

"Democrat Deserting a Sinking Ship"

In my last blog, I asked if Democrat Senators running for President would be allowed to vote to have President Trump removed from office IF the Impeachment trial gets that far. But last night, I learned that Rep. Jeff Van Drew (pictured), a Democrat from my liberal home state of New Jersey, is becoming REPUBLICAN because of the Impeachment fiasco and how he forsees it will divide America and DESTROY the Democratic Party!! So the question in HIS scenario is not should he vote, but will he vote as a DEFECTING DEMOCRAT or as a NEW REPUBLICAN....will he switch NOW or AFTER the vote??

Personally, I hope he stays Democrat until AFTER the vote.  Let history CLEARLY show that there was at least ONE Democrat who had some sense and decency about this...who voted AGAINST Trump's removal based on this sham "Impeachment Inquiry" which resulted in two bogus "Articles of Impeachment."

And, who knows, when the House Vote to proceed to a Senate Trial comes up, maybe other Dems will JOIN this brave guy and vote against it...nullifying the NEED for the trial.  After all, Van Drew's defection is a clear signal that the Republican-dominated Senate will NEVER remove Trump...especially after Conservatives won over in Great Britian this week and our economy HERE is doing better than it has in 50 years.

More than likely, however, they WILL vote for a Senate trial. MOST Democrats will HATE, not EMULATE Jeff Van Drew, they'll consider him a traitor (New Jersey Governor Murphy, a Democrat, has already BLASTED Van Drew.) The venom spewed against Van Drew will be PUBLIC to try to keep OTHERS from defecting by making an example of THIS guy.  Some will bust out the proverb about "the rat deserting the sinking ship" but I say he's a "DemocRAT" deserting the "sinking ship" of this bogus "Impeachment fiasco."  It will be a miracle if enough Dems defect to NEGATE a Senate trial, but I doubt if there ARE enough.  I hope I'm wrong.

Some REPUBLICANS may even be skeptical of Van Drew's switch...What are his motives?? What is he UP to??  Can we TRUST a "traitor"?? To such I can only say RONALD REAGAN LEFT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO BECOME A REPUBLICAN, and why did HE do it?? He said "I didn't leave the Democrats...THEY left ME." And if I'm not mistaken, TRUMP was once a Democrat ALSO but the Democrats have moved SO far to the left, I frankly can't see how ANYONE who pays attention to politics can support those bums.  He'll never say it, but Van Drew is smart enough to see that he, a straight white MAN, has no future in this Democrat Party. Nancy Pelosi and "The Squad" will say Van Drew's departure is "political" and in his own self-interest, but that would be the ULTIMATE example of "the pot calling the kettle black"...this impeachment is ALL about the self-interest of these four women. That is clear to almost ALL Republicans and even fair-minded Democrats like Van Drew.

May many MORE Democrats desert the sinking ship of this bogus Impeachent AND of the Democrat Party, itself!!

"Does FAIRNESS Matter Any More?"

So IF the Senate holds a trial regarding President Trump's impeachment, I have a question.  Do Senators Booker and Warren, who are both running for the Democrat nomination for President in 2020, get to vote??  Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest, for two who have something to gain by his removal, to have something to say about whether or not he IS removed??

Of COURSE it would be...IF that's what would happen.

It would be hypocrisy ALSO because this phony impeachment all stems from the charge that the President tried to shape the outcome of the 2020 election by doing in one of his rivals, Joe Biden.  But the crazy thing is, for all I know, it COULD happen that Booker and Warren are given the same privilege that Trump SUPPOSEDLY took for himself, and got impeached for!!  After all, Booker is black and Warren is a woman, and we ALL know that Democrats give those two groups special treatment while WHITE MEN (like Trump) are denied basic standards of fairness these days.

For that matter, Senator KAMALA HARRIS, even though she is no LONGER running for President, shouldn't be allowed to vote EITHER because she might be picked as someone's VEEP.  Therefore, SHE has a stake in whether Trump will be removed by the Senate, ALSO.

But with Harris, she is DOUBLY protected from the burden of exercising fairness because she's black AND she's a woman.

As I said, I have a question...more than one, in fact.  I'm not sure Booker, Warren and Harris WOULD have to recuse themselves in a Senate trial....but SHOULDN'T they??  Hey, I'm not even sure there'll BE a trial because from what I understand the Senate can just vote to dismiss the bogus charges with a simple majority vote (and thankfully, Republicans HAVE a comfortable majority.)

But here's the part I do NOT have a question about....Democrats are tilted against white men and it would not surprise me if Booker, Warren and Harris ARE able to vote in this sham procedure, and that Dems will deny the POSSIBILITY that THEY might be unethical in the process. In their twisted world, only WHITE MEN are sinners, you see...and what FAIR people call injustice, THEY proudly call Revenge. 

Which leads me to one more question I've been asking since the very BEGINNING of this impeachment fiasco: Does FAIRNESS matter in America any more??