Sunday, March 30, 2025

Enjoy writing

 

Turn of the Millenium: People of their time

Prologue

“OOWULL”, the jab to Adam’s back startled him. He stepped up his pace, nudging Eve, his wife, likewise.  “Keep moving.” The holy angel’s loud voice was without malice, but he was a full head higher than Adam’s, and not one with whom to trifle.  The man and woman had been walking for … awhile; they had only been permitted to pause long enough to grab and eat an apple here, or a peach there, and cup a handful of water, from this or that stream.  They were not allowed to carry anything within the folds of their coats – not even so much as a sunflower seed. 

The hazy sun was nearing the horizon.  Too near.  Up ahead, loomed The Hedge, a forest of massive trees - mostly redwoods - which bordered the Garden of Eden; a beautiful landscape about the size of modern day New Jersey.  Though still late afternoon, As the evicted couple grew nearer, the forest’s interior appeared more like dusk. 

The couple approached Eden’s border, crossing into the forest, their eviction was final.  Cherubims were on hand to make sure the two didn’t get the notion to reenter under cover of darkness.  If this team of holy angels wasn’t enough to urge the couple onward and eastward, the flaming sword turning every way, posed further incentive to keep moving. 

Before them lay, what appeared to be a sort of path, one only wide enough for the two to journey side by side. Yellowish stones, about two palms (6 inches) in height and one palm in width, dotted along its borders.  The forest was dark, and very quiet.  Too quiet.  The couple was accustomed to the twitters of birds, the calls of beasts, the rustlings of greenery, the drones of insects.

“THUNK!”

The couple about jumped out of their skins.  An acorn, having fallen from a high branch, was about the size of a tangerine – and a near miss.  Point taken, to remain on the path, stepping cautiously, for the slightly raised ground, they trod upon, was softer in some areas than in others.   

Having become too dark to go any further, the couple stopped for the night.  Hardly a few moments later, Adam and Eve lay close, and fast asleep.  From behind the couple, and just off to the side, two young hyenas padded their way through the forest; both looked at the sleeping couple and huffed, the larger of the two animals tilted her muzzle slightly upward – as if to express displeasure at having caught an unpleasant odor.  They looked at one another, shook their heads.  She huffed again.  The four-footed couple trotted off.  Above the sleeping bipeds, two moths fluttered on by. 

When dawn came, here and there streams of daylight mixed with the mists which had upwelled during the night, and making the path even more spongy.  The couple awoke; both were wet, and thirsty.  Lying ahead of them, a swath of mist-logged contoured leaves covered the ground.  Both knelt and thanked the Most High God for His gift of mercy.  They carefully, so as to not spill the precious liquid, slaked their thirst.  In addressing their need to hydrate, and to simply be with one another, neither had heard the flapping wings of two geese flying just above the tree tops.  Nor had they heard the drone of two dragon flies, which had landed upon a nearby bough – and then had continued their way also.  The leaves upon the path now nearly spent, Adam happened to turn his head.

“What in the world?”

At a distance behind them, their footprints, from the night before, were no longer visible, but instead the slightly downgrade path, and areas on either side, was covered by young shoots. A few of the stones had yet to be masked amid the sprouting greenery, others were displaced, and lay upon their sides. 

As they approached a modest clearing, a slight but luscious aroma awoke their stomachs into fits of rumbling.  They hadn’t eaten since the previous day, shortly before exiting the garden of Eden – or had they entered into the forest the day prior?  Neither was sure.  Ahead, and off to the side, a grove of fruit bearing trees grew near the path; their boughs laden with ripe bounty.   Several of the branches extended barely a reed (about 8 feet) from their reach; the upper ones crossing partly over the trail.  The closest trunk, grew just over two reeds (maybe 20 feet) outside the path.  Adam paused, thinking.  Just as he was about to turn sideways, and head for the nearest tree, Eve held up crossed hands, shaking her head.  Her eyes like saucers.  As famished as they both were…Nope!  Neither had forgotten the last time, one, then the other, had…stepped off.

Adam looked around.  His eyes lit up.  The stones.  He pulled one from its place.  It was significantly heavier than it appeared.  Perfect.  He smiled, then backed up, and took an aim.  A shower of fruits hit the ground, several landed within the path’s borders.  As the couple knelt, bowed their heads and gave thanks to their Most High God, another couple – two starlings – jetted off to build their nest, elsewhere.  Adam and his wife, ate of the fruits.  Adam then, took another stone, sending another shower.  The couple ate their fill. 

Several of the fruits remained.  Eve looked around.  With no pockets, there was no way either of the two could transport any of them.  Until the present, the very idea of carrying provisions, from one place to another, had never been an issue.  She then turned, and noticed the end of a vine growing within reach of the path.  She grabbed it and began to pull, but only so much – and nowhere near enough – was she able to obtain.  The other end held firm.  Adam took the length, and with a yank, the vine let go of its root system.  While Adam yanked other such vines, Eve cobbled together a satchel.  Adam then took another stone to one of overhead branches. 

They gathered up the fruit, put it in the bag, and continued their way.

Awhile later, the couple obtained walnuts in a similar manner – this time, using the stones to crack open the shells.  Eating their fill, Eve then bagged most of the unshelled which remained within their reach.  They continued their journey.

“This can’t be!” Eve gasped at what lay beside them.  Two sets of tracks, embedded a short distance, alongside the path, before veering off.  “No!” she looked at her husband.  He appeared to be as dumbfounded as his wife.  “How?” Eve blurted, “their gestation period is…” she left off the statement, “It hasn’t been that long,” she began counting upon her fingers.  No this couldn’t be. “Has it…??” she looked to her husband, her eyes pleading for an answer. 

Adam recognized the tracks.  They were…his eyes widened, of second generation – if not the third.  The answer to his wife’s question, was one he could not provide.  (An answer which, some 6,000 years hence, still left men of great learning, mystified).

 

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21

“So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”  Genesis 3:24

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Aren't her legs cold? The advertisement showed a blond haired woman,

wearing a very bulky long sleeved, light colored sweatshirt.  She was sitting in the passenger seat of her, evidently, boyfriend's car (or is it actually hers 🤔)  They were headed to his parents, and she would rather not, because they spoke their native language.  The man gives her, an AI aided translator - of any language being spoken.  As she puts it in her ear, the camera, quickly, and briefly, goes over her hands.  

Upon her left hand were rings, one on her third finger; but, for some reason, the simple band did not appear to be a wedding ring - most wives wear two rings on that finger.  Upon the third finger of her right hand, there appeared no ring.  The camera, however, let it be known - in no uncertain terms - the woman was pregnant.  Yeah, it matters - children born into unstable homes, growing up, not knowing who they are; moms ending up raising the kids by themselves; her not having enough money to meet expenses, or paid leave when she comes down with the flu.

Along with the bulky sweatshirt, she was wearing postage-stamp shorts - what color they were, who knows!  Her thighs were completely uncovered.  No mystery.  Neither could the  sweatshirt hide the fact, the blond woman was fat - her face.

This post is not about ethnic or body-type bashing.  Though, can't help to have noticed, men of all races seem to go after (natural) blonds - a(n expendable) status thing.  Um-hmm...and fifteen years from now, another ... child, born out of wedlock, just pinched the parking money, from out of MLC's slot.  The commuters (who work for their $) won't be happy, to see upon their windshield, a note, from the lot's owner, written upon an envelope.


"Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.  Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man."  Isaiah 47:2-3

Sunday, March 16, 2025

A husband and father works twenty hours a week,

and supports his wife, and his three kids?  And not only that, the family lives in a roomy house.  Oh, but that's not it: each Sunday, he puts a tithe into the offering plate.  And every two weeks, an additional ten-some percent, goes into a savings account.  After all, his job does carry risks.  Just an average family.

How is this possible, for one man to provide an income, while his wife keeps a peaceful home, cares for the children, and at 5pm is draped in lovely panels?

Here's how.   In a better world, where most people have enough brains to follow the Lord's way, men and women are spared the constant insanity of buying, and throwing away.  The lightbulb in their kitchen came with the house - when it was new; the father had been a young boy when his grandfather had purchased the structure and surrounding acreage - with a cash down payment of about 80%.  The man's grandparents now live upon the property's acreage, just across the road; the aging couple wanted a smaller place - one without stairs.

The man's truck came off the assembly line, around the time his father was yet a teen.  Over the years repairs had been made - since things don't last forever.  Makes a difference, when people have time to maintain their own stuff - instead of constantly running the rat race, which leads nowhere.

This is no pie-in-the-sky, but a quick snap shot of what life would be like, in a world, at least partially free of designed obsolescence - call that what it is : evil, plain and simple!   In a world where landfill areas were, maybe, ten acres - not a hundred.  In a world where sea life, doesn't end up choaking  on plastic.

A world where the Lord's ways are followed - if, for no reason, God's ways simply make more sense (than man's vicious little punk-beech mindgames).

More later.

Friday, February 21, 2025

Back in the early 60s, it was common for most radio stations

to play church music until around noon.  Probably, the preaching also - but i was about 5, and didn't grow up in a Scripture-focused family.  My parents, when young, had witnessed too much pious-playacting, and wanted no parts.  Probably, the same goes with at least one, maybe two, of the three or four tv stations - which started with the 5am farm report, and ended with the late movie, that ended at around 1am; then, nothing but buzz and fuzz. 

Anyway, i was with mom, when she had run out for a Sunday paper.  Back then, a kid could safely wait in the car, while his or her parent went into the store, for the paper, a quart of milk, and a short chat with a neighbor.  Yep, different world - very.  

Somewhere, during that brief outing, the radio was playing, and for a brief moment, such beautiful music came forth from that a.m. radio.  Glorious.  

Oh, to this day, some 60+ years forward, i remember wanting to hear the lovely music, but i knew that wasn't happening.  Yep, mom, immediately changed the channel.  Oh, and i somehow knew, not to ask.  Can even remember the genre mom switched to:  rather high-voiced early motown (twaddle).  Probably, she kept the station, because it was one of two stations not playing worship music - it was probably around 8 or 9 am.

No, not a bigot.  Just sayin', some music is just plain better quality than others.  Btw, am currently listening to my favorite music - 60s music.  1260s 😀😃🙂🙃

Love it, can't get enough of it - two more cds are on the way.

Can understand why gen x, millennials, and the generation following

aren't family oriented.  Bet they've had similar thoughts, and questions.  For instance, why did a certain relative take her dad to europe, but not her mom - the parents were married to each other, and lived in the same house.  Which probably led up to a serious, if not permanent,  falling out between mother and daughter.  Just an aside, concerning the daughter - never much cared for the...snoot.

Fa-fa-faammilieees can be nasty to one another; so, it doesn't come as a surprise, if the younger generations have seen, and have heard more than enough.  Now, as adults - and free of the drama - young people want to live life on their own terms - and listen to the music they want to hear, without having to put up with other people, who can't seem to keep their yaps shut, for more than two minutes. 

Nope, one doesn't have to be a red-piller to enjoy being single.

Okay, i get it:  wanting to live life on one's own terms, is less than Biblical.  Well guess what!  These same people, most likely, had been either exposed to Scripture being routinely mocked - ("Dear Lord above, thanks for the grub" ... what th' hey...??)  Or worse...the Holy Word wrested into an awful mix of mean spirited / salvation-by-works.   Once those mental maps are etched deep (with a dull pen) it's, seriously, nothing short a miracle, for those jagged lines to be smoothed out, let alone, completely erased - so that a better route be drawn.  

By the way, it's not the pizza guy knocking at the church house door, wanting to be admitted. 

Back in the day, when $100.00 meant something, there was a family function (a.k.a. gimmee-fest) going on - where several hundreds were being tossed around, as if they were $20s.  One of the currency tossers (who poked fun at someone who gave a mere $50) was generally short when a utility or repair bill came in the box.  It's one thing to be short on cash, due to job loss, illness, and the ongoing legalized robbery (inflation), but so another when one blows their $$ upon impress parties, fancy restaurants, and vacations.  

Time to wrap this up.

It wasn't Gen X, or Millennials, who took beauty, and stamped it in the ground.  That wicked work had already been about complete by the late 1960s - when the oldest Gen X were attending Miss Marsha's Romper Room School (pre-kindergarten).


"For I have come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."  Matthew 10:35-36

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  Revelation 3:20

Friday, February 7, 2025

Not pro-divorce, but a statement on YouTube did resonate.

A typical scenario.  Wifey-appliance works full-time, then comes home to work the uncompensated 2nd shift; where she is lied to, cheated upon, and cussed at - for no reason, really.  That all said, the woman doing the podcast said, that sticking it out for the children, may be an example to those kids - that it's okay to treat mothers (or other family members) like garbage.

Does not the Bible say something about casting pearls before swine?  Is it really a smart move to stick around, to get trampled - again?  Bible also says, there are people who lose sleep, when they are unable to make one, or more, person's life miserable.

Why don't preachers expound on this?  It's not like Scripture is silent.  (Just keep sending in your $$$; there's a "missions" trip coming up - somewhere nice ... where you'll never get to vi$it.)


"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."  Matthew 7:6

"For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall." Proverbs 4:16

"Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil."  Psalm 57:5

"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man, thou shalt not go; Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."  Proverbs 22:24-25.

Monday, January 27, 2025

Most christians don't know what's written in the Bible. That's a loaded statement.

Have heard more than one for-real Christian - who knows what's written upon those 1,200-some pages - say about coming across something he didn't know about.  After ten or so reads/reviews, and wondering, "How on earth did i miss that?"  It's one thing for a thirty year-old to make such an exclamation - but so another for a gray-head.  Another thirty years rolls by - along with a several more re-reads, and still wondering, "After all this time..."  A matter of just one iddy-bitty word, overlooked, through some 1/2 century's worth of reading at home, during sunday school, midweek study, and whenever among friends.  

Had assumed these oversights on my part, was just lack of brains, (didn't go to college) but when various preachers, who DID attend (and majored in math, or old languages, or whatever other hard stuff) are surprised at having overlooked a word, or a phrase...  Anyway, this time, another verse, (Deuteronomy 7:22) to back up something that's been brewing.  How does an area about the square milage of New Jersey..?  But that's for another post.

These days, wherever i hear, or read of, some Bible-basher going on about how most  Christians  don't know what's contained in the Bible, am not surprised to read basher's claims,  "I have read cover to cover [double-digit] amount of times."    (Can't help but to start humming, "things that make ya go, hhmm, hhmm, yeah, things that make ya go, hhmm...")  Then comes the predictable charge of genocide.

All those poor people, even gramdma - and her kitty cat, too.   Funny, how the same ones spouting the "Trust the science" mantra, are overlooking an area of science, called archeology.  Hundreds of tiny charred skeletons - how many additional hundreds, thousands, simply had melded into the (dry) dust - over these past thirty-some centuries?   Come to think of it, back then, was there more rainfall in the area?  Sort of getting off topic :/  

Moving right along, why is it, these Bible- mocking self-appointed experts aren't making any noise about the very clear warnings, God gave to the conquerors - of these baby-killing pagans?  Think it's in Exodus, where God warns the Hebrews that if they follow other gods, they will likewise end up "vomited out."  Not sure where that one is, but Deuteronomy 6:15 ends with, "destroy thee from off the face of the earth."  Sounds clear enough 😮

About willing to bet, these Bible-bashers are in fact, iq smart; they write long articles, quoting chapter and verse - probably drafted while on their 10 o'clock coffee breaks.  Articles designed to confuse, to intimidate.  Though don't  know for sure, but cannot help but to suspect, different versions are quoted throughout - here an NIV, there an ESV.  They're not the same; not even the New King James...  A time or two at the old church, where Pastor read from the NKJV, had followed along with the regular King James, yeah, the two versions didn't quite say the same.  As in a game of horse shoes, "almost" doesn't get it.

Anyway, aside of that rock concert, before the mountain, it was the belleyaching, along the way there.  Though, who wouldn't beef about having no water - yet, earlier, they'd been carping about the food, (which tasted "like wafers made with honey."  Exodus 16:31b)  Perhaps, they were also miffed about having to gather it early in the morning.  Did anyone else, besides me, miss the reality, of a 55 year old, with lower back issues, (from years of slavery?) had likely had not been able to gather as much as a 25 year old (with only the onset of back trouble - from enough years of brick-yard abuse)? Yet, what the elder was able to acquire, was enough.

Anyway, head-knowledge and heart knowledge, while both vital, aren't necessarily the same.  



"And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee."  Deuteronomy 7:22

"Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth."  Deuteronomy 6:14-15

"And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.  And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome : but the noise of them that sing do I hear."  Exodus 32:17-18 (yes 17-18 for both)

"And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating."  Exodus 16:17-18