Moby In The Morning

Meet Me in the Stairwell

2010-09-10T08:38:41-05:00

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001 . Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.' I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night. I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home -only believe in Me now.' I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered. I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them. I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me.. this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there. I did not place You in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Monkeys

2010-09-09T08:38:34-05:00

Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it.??Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana.??As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all the other monkeys with cold water.??After a while another monkey makes the attempt with the same result; all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water.??Pretty soon when a monkey tries to climb the stairs the other monkeys will try to prevent it.??Now, put the cold water away.??Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one.??The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs.??To his shock, all the other monkeys attack him.??After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he will be assaulted.??Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one.??The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked.??The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm.??Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.?Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs he is attacked.??Most of the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.??After replacing all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water.??Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana.??Why not???Because as far as they know, that is the way it has always been done around here; and that, my fellow monkeys, is how Congress operates.? ?We need to REPLACE all the original monkeys this November

We Noticed written by Sherry Hackett, Buddy Hackett's widow

2010-09-08T08:41:26-05:00

"WE NOTICED" President Obama: Today I read of your administrations' plan to re-define September 11 as a National Service Day. Sir, it's time we had a talk. During your campaign, Americans watched as you made mockery of our tradition of standing and crossing your heart when the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken. You, out of four people on the stage, were the only one not honoring our tradition. YES, "We noticed." During one of your many speeches, Americans heard you say that you intended to visit all 57 states. We all know that Islam, not America has 57 states. YES, "We noticed." When President Bush leaned over at Ground Zero and gently placed a flower on the memorial, while you nonchalantly tossed your flower onto the pile without leaning over. YES, "We noticed." Every time you apologized to other countries for America 's position on an issue we have wondered why you don't share our pride in this great country. When you have heard foreign leaders berate our country and our beliefs, you have not defended us. In fact, you insulted the British Crown beyond belief. YES, "We noticed." When your pastor of 20 years, "God-damned America " and said that 9/11 was " America 's chickens coming home to roost" and you denied having heard recriminations of that nature, we wondered how that could be. You later disassociated yourself from that church and Pastor Wright because it was politically expedient to do so. YES, "We noticed." When you announced that you would transform America , we wondered why. With all her faults, America is the greatest country on earth. Sir, KEEP THIS IN MIND, "if not for America and the people who built her, you wouldn't be sitting in the White House now." Prior to your election to the highest office in this Country, you were a senator from Illinois and from what we can glean from the records available, not a very remarkable one. YES, "We noticed." All through your campaign and even now, you have surrounded yourself with individuals who are basically unqualified for the positions for which you appointed them. Worse than that, the majority of them are people who, like you, bear no special allegiance, respect, or affection for this country and her traditions. YES, "We noticed." You are 14 months into your term and every morning millions of Americans wake up to a new horror heaped on us by you. You seek to saddle working Americans with a health care/insurance reform package that, along with cap and trade, will bankrupt this nation. YES, "We noticed." We seek, by protesting, to let our representatives know that we are not in favor of these crippling expenditures and we are labeled "un-American","racist", "mob". We wonder how we are supposed to let you know how frustrated we are. You have attempted to make our protests seem isolated and insignificant. Until your appointment, Americans had the right to speak out. YES, "We noticed." On September 11, 2001 there were no Republicans or Democrats, only Americans. And we all grieved together and helped each other in whatever way we could. The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans. And YES, "We noticed." There were many of us who prayed that as a black president you could help unite this nation. In six months you have done more to destroy this nation than the attack on 9/11. You have failed us. YES, "We noticed." September 11 is a day of remembrance for all Americans. You propose to make 9/11 a "National Service Day".. While we know that you don't share our reverence for 9/11, we pray that history will report your proposal as what it is, a disgrace. YES, "We noticed." You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold. You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy. YES, "We noticed." We have noticed all these things. We will deal with you. When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you from office. Take notice.

Is it Just Me?

2010-09-07T08:46:43-05:00

IS IT JUST ME, OR IS THERE SOMETHING NICE ABOUT A RELIGION THAT DOESN'T CALL FOR THE ANNIHILATION OF ALL OTHER RELIGIONS. ON A RECENT "BEACH" VACATION, 'NEW LIFE' CHURCH FROM BRUNSWICK HAD A TREASURE HUNT FOR THE KIDS. 'WORLD LIGHT' , 'LIFES CROWN' , 'BAPTISM', AND CLEANSING OF SINS WERE SOME OF THE STATIONS THE CHILDREN ATTENDED ON THEIR WAY TO THE TREASURE OF A HOTDOG AND POOL PASS. THERE WERE NO STATIONS FOR JIHAD, SUICIDE BOMBING, OR TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE JEWISH STATE. IN THIS LAND OF FREEDOM, AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION IS PART OF THIS LAND, I PONDER THE PLACE FOR ANY RELIGIOUS PRACTICE INTOLERANT OF ANY AND EVERY OTHER RELIGION. A PARADIEM, IT IS! DURING 2 YEARS IN SAUDI ARABIA, I WITNESSED THE EXTREMES OF A RELIGION BASED IN HATE AND FEAR. MY 2 TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ BROUGHT HOME THE DISREGARD FOR LIFE COMMONPLACE IN A COUNTRY TORN BY THE FIGHT BETWEEN SUNNIS AND SHIITES. I FEEL WE SHOULD PERSERVE ON OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE TALIBAN WHO BELIEVE 'ALLAH' APPROVES THE BARTER OF 15 YEAR OLD FEMALES AS IF THEY ARE LIVESTOCK. A MOSQUE AT GROUND ZERO???.. I PROPOSE A LAW THAT THERE CAN BE NO MOSQUE WITHIN THREE THOUSAND MILES OF GROUND ZERO, THAT'S AT LEAST A GOOD START. I PASSED A SIGN TODAY???.. 'CHRISTIANS HAVE OBSERVED THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT FOR FAR TOO LONG.'

A Grammer Lesson from Debbie Murray

2010-09-03T08:46:24-05:00

Dear Moby: I've enjoyed your morning show for years. I applaud your patriotism and values. However, I do want to respectfully request that you please speak grammatically and use proper tense. This morning you said, "we was" and this should be "we were". I was, you were, she/he was, they were. Although we're in the south it is still incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition. The most commonly abused is the word "at". Where are you at? This should simply be "where are you?" As you are a beloved celebrity and a role model, I hope you will consider this request. Respectfully, Debbie -- Sincerely, Debbie Dorman in Murrayville Dear Debbie, I would like to tell you a couple of things. First I don?t disagree with what you?ve said. You are correct in your assessment, but in my heart of hearts, I don?t give it the importance you do. I?m in the business of communicating. I never claimed it was a grammar class. I will say that I?m grateful for the very kind tone you took in your criticism. Many people that I?ve upset by things I?ve broadcast criticize rudely, and even threateningly on the phone , in emails, and via letters, both typed, and handwritten. I freely hold myself up as a grammatical ?bad example? for school children in terms of absolute proper grammar. Teachers can feel free to point to me, and say, ?Bless his heart. I?m sure he was raised better.? As long as my intent, patriotism, morality, a respect for authority is conveyed, then I feel I?ve done my job. By the way, my wife is absolutely right there on the same page as you. My mother?s sister, my dear Aunt Sue would say, I knew it would come to this. He?s always been that way. But sweet lady, I?m proud to sit in the studio, and let what I view as important, moral, and hopefully from time to time funny come into kitchens and cars of the radio family. I only pray that my resistance (OK?my stubbornness) doesn?t drive you away, because you?ll always be a welcomed cousin. I is what I be. I be what I is. I am what I am. God bless & Yeah baby, MOBY

The Knotts Prayer

2010-09-02T09:03:36-05:00

Dear God, Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life, Rmove the have nots that ca nots and the do nots that I have in my mind. Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart. Release me from the could nots would nots and should nots that obstruct my life. And most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart, and my life all of the "Am nots" that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not food enough. Amen

A Letter from JW Platt

2010-09-01T08:37:11-05:00

Just to let you know who I am so you won't think I am just some crazy old man that sits around listening to the radio all day. Actually, that is a pretty accurate assesment. I will be 61 this Friday, September 3rd. I am a retired truck driver. My wife of 36 years passed away 2 1/2 years ago from c.o.p.d. I home school a 13 year old grandson. I am on disability. I draw 40% service connected disability from Viet Nam service. I spent 7 years in the Army. May 1967 till Jun 1974. I was with the 101st Airborne Division in a fun little place named Phu Bai. I am 100% disabled from Social Security due to c.o.p.d. I loved those Marlboro's for 40 years. I had a heart attack and triple by-pass in 2004, but went back to work 86 days later because my wife was sick and needed lots of medicine each month. I continued to work unitl May 2008. She passed away Feb 15th 2008. I have diabetes and neuropathy in both feet. Hearing aids for both ears, bi-focal glasses. Arthritis in my back that makes it difficult to get around at times. I get out and go fishing and hunting and live my life as best as I can. People worry about dying, when they should be worrying about living. Anybody can die. It takes no talent or effort. Living is what you have to work at. Put God in your heart and a smile on your face and every morning you wake up alive, smile real big and say "Thank You Jesus for giving me another day!! Please help me to appreciate it and make the most out of itl. I love your show and listen to you each morning. I hope I didn't bore you to death, but just thought I would let you know that, according to Nancy Pelosi, I am a right wing domestic terrorist that clings to God, guns and country. God Bless you for supporting our military as you do. You are a great American. j. w. platt west monroe, la

Twas the Night Before Elections

2010-08-31T08:58:25-05:00

'Twas the night before elections And all through the town Tempers were flaring Emotions all up and down! I, in my bathrobe With a cat in my lap Had cut off the TV Tired of political crap. When all of a sudden There arose such a noise I peered out of my window Saw Obama and his boys They had come for my wallet They wanted my pay To give to the others Who had not worked a day! He snatched up my money And quick as a wink Jumped back on his bandwagon As I gagged from the stink He then rallied his henchmen Who were pulling his cart I could tell they were out To tear my country apart! ' On Fannie, on Freddie, On Biden and Ayers! On Acorn, On Pelosi' He screamed at the pairs! They took off for his cause And as he flew out of sight I heard him laugh at the nation Who wouldn't stand up and fight! So I leave you to think On this one final note- IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM GET OUT AND VOTE!!!! Amen

God Said "NO"

2010-08-30T08:39:27-05:00

I asked God to take away my habit... God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned. I asked God to give me happiness.. God said, No.. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow.. God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things. I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea..

A Small Cross

2010-08-27T11:14:50-05:00

Submitted by Gunny Lyndon Smith When driving to, from, and through Frankenmuth, Michigan , I'm always intrigued with the many small simple crosses in the front yards of the homes we pass by. Those crosses are a statement of support for Frankenmuth's Christian foundation. Two years ago an atheist living there complained about two crosses on a bridge in town. He requested that they be removed and the town removed them. He then decided that, since he was so successful with that, the city shield should also be changed since it had on it, along with other symbols, a heart with a cross inside signifying the city's Lutheran beginnings. At that point, the residents decided they had had enough. Hundreds of residents made their opinions known by placing small crosses in their front yards. Seeing this quiet but powerful statement from the community, the man removed his complaint. Those simple crosses remain in those front yards today. After passing those crosses for two years, it finally hit me that a small cross in millions of front yards across our country could provide a powerful and inspiring message for all Americans passing them every day. I think it might be time to take this idea across America . We have an administration that says "we are not a Christian nation" and everywhere you look the ACLU and others are trying to remove from our history and current lives any reference to God, prayer, or the fact that our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Our administration can't bring themselves to talk about "radical Muslims or Islamic terrorists" for fear of offending them, but they can talk about Americans "clinging to their guns and their religion", or insinuate that our own military troops coming home from service overseas might turn into terrorists. The majority of Americans are Christians, why are we letting this happen to us? IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AND MAKE A STATEMENT. A SMALL QUIET BUT POWERFUL STATEMENT. IF YOU AGREE, PLACE A SMALL WHITE CROSS IN YOUR FRONT YARD OR GARDEN FOR ALL TO SEE THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. It would be a beautiful thing to see crosses all across America .

A Speech Every American High School Principal SHOULD Give By Dennis Prager

2010-08-26T08:39:35-05:00

I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people. I would like to apprise you of some important changes coming to our school. I am making these changes because I am convinced most of the ideas that have dominated public education in America have worked against you, against your teachers and against our country. First, this school will no longer honor race or ethnicity. I could not care less if your racial makeup is black, brown, red, yellow or white. I could not care less if your origins are African, Latin American, European, Asian, or if your ancestors arrived here on the Mayflower or on slave ships. The only identity I care about, the only one this school will recognize, is your individual identity--your character, your scholarship, your humanity. And the only national identity this school will care about is American. This is an American public school, and American public schools were created to make better Americans. If you wish to affirm an ethnic, racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity, race- and non-American nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America, one of its three central values -- e pluribus Unum, "from many, one." And this school will be guided by America's values. This includes all after-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in a society divided by political correctness. Your clubs will be based on interests and passions, not blood, ethnic, racial or other physically defined ties. Those clubs just cultivate narcissism--an unhealthy preoccupation with the self, while the purpose of education is to get you to think beyond yourself. So, we will have clubs that transport you to the wonders and glories of art, music, astronomy, languages you do not already speak, carpentry and more. If the only extracurricular activities you can imagine being interesting in are those based on ethnic, racial or sexual identity, that means that little outside of yourself really interests you. Second, I am uninterested in whether English is your native language. My only interest in terms of language is that you leave this school speaking and writing English as fluently as possible. The English language has united America's citizens for over 200 years, and it will unite us at this school. It is one of the indispensable reasons this country of immigrants has always come to be one country. And if you leave this school without excellent English language skills, I would be remiss in my duty to ensure that you will be prepared to successfully compete in the American job market. We will learn other languages here. It is deplorable that most Americans only speak English -- but if you want classes taught in your native language rather than in English, this is not your school. Third, because I regard learning as a sacred endeavor, everything in this school will reflect learning's elevated status. This means, among other things, that you and your teachers will dress accordingly. Many people in our society dress more formally for Hollywood events than for church or school. These people have their priorities backward. Therefore, there will be a formal dress code at this school. Fourth, no obscene language will be tolerated anywhere on this school's property -- whether in class, in the hallways or at athletic events. If you can't speak without using the f-word, you can't speak. By obscene language I mean the words banned by the Federal Communications Commission. It is my intent that by the time you leave this school, you will be among the few your age to instinctively distinguish between the elevated and the degraded, the holy and the obscene. Fifth, we will end all self-esteem programs. In this school, self-esteem will be attained in only one way -- the way people attained it until decided otherwise a generation ago -- by earning it. One immediate consequence is that there will be one valedictorian, not eight. Sixth, and last, I am reorienting the school toward academics and away from politics and propaganda. No more time will devoted to scaring you about smoking and caffeine, or terrifying you about sexual harassment or global warming. No more semesters will be devoted to condom wearing and teaching you to regard sexual relations as only or primarily a health issue. There will be no more attempts to convince you that you are a victim because you are not white, or not male, or not heterosexual or not Christian. We will have failed if any one of you graduates this school and does not consider him or herself inordinately lucky -- to be alive and to be an American.

Steven Dolby, American Hero

2010-08-25T08:41:58-05:00

Friday, August 6, David C. Dolby passed away suddenly in Spirit Lake, Idaho at the age of 64. Childless, Mr. Dolby had lived in virtual seclusion in the town of Barto, PA since the passing of his wife in 1987. Mr. Dolby?s passing went so unnoticed that even his hometown paper didn?t acknowledge it. His passing was announced by an organization to which he belonged. Evidently most felt Mr. Dolby?s death didn?t merit any notice at all and almost nobody gave it a thought. He apparently hadn?t done anything in his life to merit any special attention. Three days later, on Monday, August 9, Steven Slater, a childish, immature, loser who up until that day had pretty much gone unnoticed like David Dolby, threw a temper tantrum on a Jet Blue airplane at John F. Kennedy airport. Since acting like a spoiled 16 year old, he has been featured on every major news network in the country, his face is on the front page of numerous national publications, Facebook pages have been established to ?honor? him, and Mr. Slater has been called a ?hero? by people we are supposed to believe know what that term means. Only in today?s America, Mr. Slater will, in all likelihood, stretch his 15 minutes of infamy into 30 and end up making an obscene amount of money from, and revered by, some folks in our great nation who believe that Mr. Slater?s parents actually DIDN?T pollute the gene pool. He?ll be given praise he doesn?t deserve and labels he never earned. He apparently has done something that merits this sort of special attention. In the meantime, a funeral service was held at Arlington National Cemetery. There weren?t be any press there and only a handful of mourners who had the privilege to know David Dolby. And there will probably be a few guys there that are fellow members of the organization that announced his passing: the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. A small portion of Dolby's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Although repeatedly under fire at close range from enemy snipers and automatic weapons, Sgt. Dolby directed artillery fire on the enemy and succeeded in silencing several enemy weapons. He remained in his exposed location until his comrades had displaced to more secure positions. His actions of unsurpassed valor during 4 hours of intense combat were a source of inspiration to his entire company, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. Sgt. Dolby's heroism was in the highest tradition of the U.S. Army But Steve Slater has been called a hero by the American media, and that must be right because we saw it on television.

A Letter from a Young Patriot

2010-08-24T10:43:48-05:00

dear moby, and friends Just wanted to say thanks for being an American citizen who can stand up and speak. I am a father, husband ,and a full time oilfield worker. I have worked hard to get what the government pretty much owns, just with my name on it. i may only be twenty seven but i have the values of someone three times my age. like you im sure it was beat into me from the time i was a child. i stand with my head up and feet on the ground though the government seems to want us settin down i rebel and refuse to quit and fall into that category of being depressed about how om going to make it. its simple to me ill wake up in the mornin go to work,sweat, bleed, and love my family when i get home. after all my wife and kids are all i need. Thanks moby for being the role model most are cowards not you my friend your friend Jerry Kniceley yeah baby

Newt Gingrich's Position on the Mosque

2010-08-23T08:39:46-05:00

July 21, 2010 6pm There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia. The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over. The proposed "Cordoba House" overlooking the World Trade Center site - where a group of jihadists killed over 3000 Americans and destroyed one of our most famous landmarks - is a test of the timidity, passivity and historic ignorance of American elites. For example, most of them don't understand that "Cordoba House" is a deliberately insulting term. It refers to Cordoba, Spain - the capital of Muslim conquerors who symbolized their victory over the Christian Spaniards by transforming a church there into the world's third-largest mosque complex. Today, some of the Mosque's backers insist this term is being used to "symbolize interfaith cooperation" when, in fact, every Islamist in the world recognizes Cordoba as a symbol of Islamic conquest. It is a sign of their contempt for Americans and their confidence in our historic ignorance that they would deliberately insult us this way. Those Islamists and their apologists who argue for "religious toleration" are arrogantly dishonest. They ignore the fact that more than 100 mosques already exist in New York City. Meanwhile, there are no churches or synagogues in all of Saudi Arabia. In fact no Christian or Jew can even enter Mecca. And they lecture us about tolerance. If the people behind the Cordoba House were serious about religious toleration, they would be imploring the Saudis, as fellow Muslims, to immediately open up Mecca to all and immediately announce their intention to allow non-Muslim houses of worship in the Kingdom. They should be asked by the news media if they would be willing to lead such a campaign. We have not been able to rebuild the World Trade Center in nine years. Now we are being told a 13 story, $100 million megamosque will be built within a year overlooking the site of the most devastating surprise attack in American history. Finally where is the money coming from? The people behind the Cordoba House refuse to reveal all their funding sources. America is experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization. Sadly, too many of our elites are the willing apologists for those who would destroy them if they could. No mosque. No self deception. No surrender. The time to take a stand is now - at this site, on this issue. If, after hearing this, you agree with it, please tell others. This is the most clearly stated, sensible, and historically accurate statement that I've seen on this issue. Why can't we have a President as intelligent, educated, and patriotic as this former Speaker of the House?

The Dallas Solution

2010-08-19T08:40:14-05:00

I have a friend who is president of his homeowners association in the Dallas, Texas suburbs. They were having a terrible problem with litter near some of his association's homes. The reason according to my friend is that six very large, luxurious new houses are being built right next to their community. The trash was coming from the Mexican laborers working at the construction sites and included bags from McDonald's, Burger King and 7-11, plus coffee cups, napkins, cigarette butts, coke cans, empty bottles, etc. He went to see the site supervisor and even the general contractor, politely urging them to get their workers not to litter the neighborhood, to no avail. He called the city, county, and police and got no help there either. So here's what his community did. They organized about twenty folks, named themselves The "Inner Neighborhood Services" group, and arranged to go out at lunchtime and "police" the trash themselves. It is what they did while picking up the trash that is so hilarious. They bought navy blue baseball caps and had the initials "INS" embroidered in gold on the caps. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what they hoped people might mistakenly think the letters really stand for... After the Inner Neighborhood Services group's first lunch time pickup detail, with all of them wearing their caps and some carrying cameras, 46 out of the total of 68 construction workers did not show up for work the next morning -- and haven't come back yet. It has been ten days now. The General Contractor, I'm told, is madder than he**, but can't say anything publicly because he could be busted for hiring illegal aliens. My friend and his bunch can't be accused of impersonating federal personnel, because they have the official name of the group recorded in their homeowner association minutes along with a notation about the vote to approve formation of the new subcommittee -- and besides, they informed the INS in advance of their plans, and according to my friend, the INS said basically, "Have at it!" SO, FOLKS, I THINK YOU COULD SAY THAT TEXAS INGENUITY TRIUMPHS AGAIN! Reminder: Don't forget to pay your taxes... 12 million illegal aliens are depending on you. After hearing they want to sing the National Anthem in Spanish - enough is enough. Nowhere did they sing it in Italian, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German or any other language because of immigration. It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it was written. I'm NOT sorry if this offends anyone because this is OUR COUNTRY - IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY SPEAK UP. Come through like everyone else. APPLY FIRST - have a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your taxes, live by the rules AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past! Think about this: If you don't want to share this for fear of offending someone -- YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is Time for America to Speak up. No wonder California is in such financial trouble! Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist.'

Andy Rooney says:

2010-08-18T08:49:07-05:00

Andy Rooney says: (Even if he didn?t say it. It needed to be said, and said loudly!!) I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada, countries founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome ..... But what about the atheists? Is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humour us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer! Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations. Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me. The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want.

How to Dance in the Rain

2010-08-17T08:39:36-05:00

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arms, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This is one of those. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. 'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, But how to dance in the rain

Very Special Delivery

2010-08-16T08:36:45-05:00

May the Lord open up The windows of heaven And pour you a blessing That you will not have room Enough to receive it all. May the Lord bless You exceedingly and abundantly, Above all you could ever hope for. May the Lord bless you That you may walk in a Financial overflow. May you fall in love with Him For the rest of your days In the Name of Jesus. Amen!

Inside Out

2010-08-13T08:43:00-05:00

Here is the link to Linda Ellis's Poem Inside Out

There is Much Being Said Today About Gun Control and Gun Registration

2010-08-12T08:50:05-05:00

There is much being said today about gun control and gun registration. I will start this comment by quoting Thomas Jefferson. He said that free men must be armed and stay armed to stay free. This nation was freed from England by the way of gun. Slavery was defeated by the way of gun. In World War II, the Japanese and Germans were defeated by the gun and now enjoy unlimited freedom. Hussein was defeated by the gun. No tyranny has ever given in without a fight. Thomas Jefferson also said that there would always be those who would usurp your freedom if you were weak and defenseless. Passing any law that curtails your possession of a weapon gives an advantage to the criminals. By making stringent laws for registration, it will wind up making half or more of the population law breakers as most people will not comply ether by their belief in the Constitution or negligence. Sweden and Switzerland were not invaded by Hitler?why? Politics, for several reasons. However, both countries had a citizen military, and there was a weapon assigned to every male of age, plus there was no gun registration for private guns. All the other nations the Germans military had to do was take the list and go to your house to take your gun. If you didn?t have it, you would be arrested or shot. Chilling, isn?t it? And more chilling is the fact that some of our lawmakers would put your name on a national gun law list. This list will be in every law enforcement agency in the nation and many foreign countries. The criminals will have a field day with them. Only the very dumb would believe that they won?t fall in the wrong hands. There are those who would make you believe that guns are evil. People are evil, not guns. It?s the people who misuse guns who should be banned! Hershell Smith From Fitzgerald ga

Blue Rose

2010-08-11T08:45:30-05:00

Having four visiting family members, the wife was very busy, so I offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent, and Clorox. So off I went. I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here" It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?" "My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly. "Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve." "Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?" "How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.. "You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by." I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles, and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section. Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God. She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?" Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion but I sure love living in God's garden." She reached out, squeezed my hand, and said, "God bless you!" and then I had tears in my eyes. May I suggest that the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family. From an old dandelion!

Catholic Humor

2010-08-10T08:39:44-05:00

On a Saturday afternoon, in Washington, D. C., an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the Bishop of the Catholic cathedral in D.C. He told the Cardinal that Nancy Pelosi would be attending the next day's Mass, and he asked if the Cardinal would kindly point out Pelosi to the congregation and say a few words that would include calling Pelosi a saint. The Cardinal replied, "No. I don't really like the woman, and there are issues of conflict with the Catholic Church over certain of Pelosi's views." Pelosi's aide then said, "Look. I'll write a check here and now for a donation of $100,000 to your church if you'll just tell the congregation you see Pelosi as a saint." The Cardinal thought about it and said, "Well, the church can use the money, so I'll work your request into tomorrow's sermon." As Pelosi's aide promised, House Speaker Pelosi appeared for the Sunday worship and seated herself prominently at the forward left side of the center aisle. As promised, at the start of his sermon, the Cardinal pointed out that Speaker Pelosi was present. The Cardinal went on to explain to the congregation, "While Speaker Pelosi's presence is probably an honor to some, the woman is not numbered among my personal favorite personages. Someof her most egregious views are contrary to tenets of the Church, and she tends to flip-flop on many other issues. Nancy Pelosi is a petty, self-absorbed hypocrite, a thumb sucker, and a nit-wit. Nancy Pelosi is also a serial liar, a cheat, and a thief. I must say, Nancy Pelosi is the worst example of a Catholic I have ever personally witnessed. She married for money and is using her wealth to lie to the American people. She also has a reputation for shirking her Representative obligations both in Washington , and in California. The woman is simply not to be trusted." The Cardinal concluded, "But, when compared with Obama and Senators Harry Reid and Barney Frank, House Speaker Pelosi is a saint."

The Brick submitted by Brad Williams

2010-08-09T08:40:06-05:00

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.' Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.' Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat... He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home... It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not. Thought for the Day: If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you! God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

A letter about the Booties.

2010-08-06T08:59:14-05:00

Dear Moby, My husband, Don, listens to your program every morning and loves your show. One day you talked about crochet becoming a dying art. He requested I make a pair of booties and doily for you. You are correct in saying that crocheting is a dying art form. I do not know a single person who crochets with thread. My mother began making the baby booties over 58 years ago when she was pregnant with my brother. The booties became sort of a ministry for her as she prayed over each pair, asking that God bless the baby that wore them. At the moment she didn?t know who the booties would go to. Her booties have been sent all over the world and especially to women who wanted to get pregnant and were having some difficulties. Mom died on June 7, 2010 and dad followed shortly after on June 21. I wanted to continue her legacy of crocheting the delicate booties. I suppose you could say she passed the mantel to me. I hope that you and your wife enjoy the doily as much as I enjoy doing the handwork. I pray the booties bless some sweet baby. Please continue to speak out for our wonderful nation and our dedicated soldiers. God Bless, Don and Barbara White

People Said it Didn't Matter

2010-08-05T08:43:37-05:00

When Obama wrote a book and said he was mentored as a youth by Frank, (Frank Marshall Davis) an avowed Communist, people said it didn't matter. When it was discovered that his grandparents, were strong socialists who sent Obama's mother to a socialist school where she was introduced to Frank Marshall Davis. He was later introduced to young Barrack Hussein Obama People said it didn't matter. When people found out that Barrack Hussein Obama was enrolled as a Muslim child in school and his father and stepfather were both Muslims, people said it didn't matter. When he wrote in another book he authored "I will stand with them (Muslims) should the political winds shift in an ugly direction" people said it didn't matter. When he admittedly, in his book, said he chose Marxist friends and professors in college-- people said it didn't matter. When he traveled to Pakistan , after college on an unknown national passport, people said it didn't matter. When he sought the endorsement of the Marxist Party in 1996 as he ran for the Illinois Senate, people said it doesn't matter. When he sat in a Chicago Church for twenty years and listened to a preacher spew hatred for America and preach black liberation theology, people said it didn't matter. When an independent Washington organization, that tracks Senate voting records, gave him the distinctive title as the "most liberal senator," people said it didn't matter. When the Palestinians in Gaza set up a fund raising telethon to raise money for his election campaign, people said it didn't matter. When his voting record supported gun control, people said it didn't matter. When he refused to disclose who donated money to his election campaign, as other candidates had done, people said it didn't matter. When he received endorsements from people like Louis Farrakhan and Mummar Kadaffi and Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter. When it was pointed out that he was a total newcomer and had absolutely no experience at anything except community organizing, people said it didn't matter. When he chose friends and acquaintances such as Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn who were revolutionary radicals, people said it didn't matter. When his voting record in the Illinois senate and in the U.S. Senate came into question, people said it didn't matter. When he refused to wear a flag, lapel pin, and did so only after a public outcry, people said it didn't matter. When people started treating him as a Messiah and children in schools were taught to sing his praises, people said it didn't matter. When he stood with his hands over his groin area for the playing of the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, people said it didn't matter. When he surrounded himself in the White house with advisors who were pro-gun control, pro- abortion, pro-homosexual marriage and wanting to curtail freedom of speech to silence the opposition people said it didn't matter.. When he said he favors sex education in Kindergarten, including homosexual indoctrination, people said it didn't matter. When his personal background was either scrubbed or hidden and nothing could be found about him, people said it didn't matter. When the place of his birth was called into question, and he refused to produce a birth certificate, people said it didn't matter. When he had an association in Chicago with Tony Rezco--a man of questionable character and who is now in prison and had helped Obama to a sweet deal on the purchase of his home-- people said it didn't matter. When it became known that George Soros, a multi-billionaire Marxist, spent a ton of money to get him elected, people said it didn't matter. When he started appointing White House Czars that were radicals, revolutionaries, and even avowed Marxist/Communist, people said it didn't matter. When he stood before the Nation and told us that his intentions were to "fundamentally transform this Nation" into something else, people said it didn't matter. When it became known that he had trained ACORN workers in Chicago and served as an attorney for ACORN, people said it didn't matter. When he appointed cabinet members and several advisors who were tax cheats and socialists, people said it didn't matter. When he appointed a Science Czar, John Holdren, who believes in forced abortions, mass sterilizations and seizing babies from teen mothers, people said it didn't matter. When he appointed Cass Sunstein as Regulatory Czar who believes in "Explicit Consent," harvesting human organs without family consent, and allowing animals to be represented in court, while banning all hunting, people said it didn't matter. When he appointed Kevin Jennings, a homosexual, and organizer of a group called gay, lesbian, straight, education network as Safe School Czar and it became known that he had a history of bad advice to teenagers, people said it didn't matter. When he appointed Mark Lloyd, as Diversity Czar, who believes in curtailing free speech; taking from one and giving to another to spread the wealth; who supports Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter. When Valerie Jarrett was selected as Obama's Senior White House Advisor and she is an avowed Socialist, people said it didn't matter. When Anita Dunn, White House Communications Director said Mao Tse Tung was her favorite philosopher- - and the person she turned to most for inspiration, people said it didn't matter. When he appointed Carol Browner as Global Warming Czar, and her being a well known socialist working on Cap and trade as the nations largest tax, people said it doesn't matter. When he appointed Van Jones, an ex-con and avowed Communist as Green Energy Czar, who since had to resign when this was made known, people said it didn't matter. When Tom Daschle, Obama's pick for health and human services secretary could not be confirmed, because he was a tax cheat, people said it didn't matter.. When as President of the United States , he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia , people said it didn't matter. When he traveled around the world criticizing America and never once talking of her greatness, people said it didn't matter. When his actions concerning the Middle-East seemed to support the Palestinians over Israel , our long time ally, people said it doesn't matter. When he took American tax dollars to resettle thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to the United States , people said it doesn't matter. When he upset the Europeans by removing plans for a missile defense system against the Russians, people said it doesn't matter. When he played politics in Afghanistan by not sending troops early-on when the Field Commanders said they were necessary to win, people said it didn't matter. When he started spending us into a debt that was so big we could not pay it off, people said it didn't matter. When he took a huge spending bill under the guise of stimulus and used it to pay off organizations, unions, and individuals that got him elected, people said it didn't matter. When he took over insurance companies, car companies, banks, etc., people said it didn't matter. When he took away student loans from the banks and put it through the government, people said it didn't matter. When he designed plans to take over the health care system and put it under government control, people said it didn't matter. When he claimed he was a Christian during the election and tapes were later made public that showed Obama speaking to a Muslim group and 'stating' that he was raised a Muslim; was educated as a Muslim; and that he is still a Muslim-- people said it didn't matter. When he set into motion a plan to take over the control of all energy in the United States through Cap and Trade, people said it didn't matter. When he finally completed his transformation of America into a Socialist State, people finally woke up--- but it was too late.

Breast-Feeding Debate

2010-08-04T09:11:29-05:00

Moby, I've had a couple of people come up to me recently to ask me if I've heard your recent opinions on babies nursing in public. I also understand you've found a tune to help further your cause. Moby, your words influence too many people to be putting negative stuff like that out there. Do you realize that some may choose not to nurse their babies at all bc of fear of how people like you might react. Does it really mean that much to you to contribute in denying children their GOD GIVEN RIGHT? Every year, babies in the US alone die from complications of formula feeding. When a woman nurses her baby she is potentially extending not only her baby's life, but her own. These are research-based facts. I don't listen to you on the radio but I used to. So, I'm not likely to hear any response you voice on the air. I am a lactation professional and work 40+ hours a week educating, promoting and supporting breastfeeding for the state of Georgia. Come on, Moby! How about a little healthy debate. Liane C. Varnes, CLC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor No need for a debate on it, Liane. You & I both agree that children must be nourished, as well as tenderly nurtured. Certainly, breast feeding is a natural process. However, there are many, many ?natural? things we shouldn?t do in public. Like you, I encourage new mothers to breast feed their gifts from God, but I believe they should excuse themselves from view prior to the process. Even though you choose not to listen to me or my show, I sincerely thank you for contributing to a simple ?Small Town Soap Box.? I?m sure those you know that DO listen, can tell you what THAT is. God bless you & your family. Yeah baby, MOBY ==============================================================================Thanks for the cordial response. However, Moby, you must understand that this particular issue is a huge barrier to getting the nourishment and nurturing babies deserve. Just for a minute, put yourself in a young mom's place. If you had to go "hide behind the door" every time your baby nursed, how long do you think you'd keep it up? (As long as I continued to love my baby, I?d keep it up, I suspect.) Imagine, friends over to watch a movie or play games -- baby wants to nurse -- everyone has to either sit and wait for mom to return (You?d be at home. Feed your baby when it?s hungry it any manner you choose.) Or, maybe mom is out to eat with friends, or at the movies. Same, same. (This is where we don?t agree. It?s not the same.) I could go on, Moby, but you must see that expecting women to hide while they are doing something that they should be darned proud of oppresses them. It's back to being barefoot and pregnant. Come on, Moby! Open up and give a little. This has nothing to do with being "natural." It has to do with being NORMAL. Now, if it makes you uncomfortable to know that a woman is nursing in public -- is it bc it is hard for you to not look and that is the issue? I can understand that. But, I hold that the more we treat this as normal the less it will make people uncomfortable. God Bless You, Moby. But, with all due respect, you need to reconsider this. Liane C. Varnes, CLC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (I?ll give in on this. But if they?re gonna do it in the food court, I?m probably gonna look.)

Her Turn

2010-08-03T08:42:00-05:00

Here is the link to this morning's Small Town Soapbox by Linda Ellis. Her Turn

Health Check-Up

2010-08-02T08:43:47-05:00

I went to the Lord?s clinic to have my routine check-up, and confirmed I was ill. Jesus took my blood pressure and He saw I was low on tenderness. When He took my temperature, the thermometer registered 40 degrees of anxiety. He ran an electrocardiogram, and found that I needed several ?Love bypasses? since my arteries were blocked by loneliness, and could not provide for an empty heart. I went to Orthopedics, because I could not walk by my brother?s side, and I could not hug my friends, since I had fractured myself when tripping with envy. He also found I was short-sighted since I could not see beyond the shortcomings of my brothers & sisters. When I complained about deafness, the diagnosis was that I had stopped listening to Jesus? voice talking to me on a daily basis. For all that, Jesus gave me a free consultation thanks to his mercifulness. So, my pledge is, once I leave this clinic, to only take the natural remedies He prescribed through His words of truth: Every morning take a glassful of gratitude. When getting to work, take one spoonful of peace. Every hour, take one pill of patience, one cup of brotherhood, and one glass of humility. When getting home, take one dose of love. When going to bed, take two caplets of clear conscience. Do not give into sadness or desperation for what you?re going through today. God knows how you feel? God knows exactly and with perfection, what is being allowed to happen in your life at this precise moment. God?s purpose for you is simply perfect. He wants to show you things that only you can understand by living what you are living, and by being in the place you are in now. May God give you?.. For every storm, a rainbow. For every tear, a smile. For every care a promise. And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet sweet song. And an answer for every prayer.

And God Created Virginia

2010-07-30T11:18:15-05:00

God was missing for six days. Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired, "Where have you been?" God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made." Archangel Michael looked puzzled, and said, "What is it?" "It's a planet," replied God, and I've put life on it... I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a place to test Balance." "Balance?" inquired Michael, "I'm still confused." God explained, pointing to different parts of Earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, while southern Europe is going to be poor. Over here I've placed a continent of white people, and over there is a continent of black people.. Balance in all things. God continued pointing to different countries. "This one will be extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice." The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land area and said, "What's that one?" "That's Virginia, the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful mountains, rivers and streams, lakes, forests, hills, and plains. The people from Virginia are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent, and humorous, and they are going to travel the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving, carriers of peace, and producers of good things" Michael gasped in wonder and admiration, but then asked, "But what about balance, God? You said there would be balance..." God smiled, "Right next to Virginia is Washington , DC . Wait till you see the idiots I put there."

Old Barns and Old People

2010-07-29T08:41:00-05:00

A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinkin?. He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway. I told him right off he was crazy. He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and by the way he talked. He said he was driving by, and saw that beautiful old barn sittin? out in the tall grass, and he wanted to know if it was for sale. I told him, he had a funny idea of beauty. Sure, it was a handsome building in its day. But since then, there?s been a lot of winters pass with their snow and ice and howling wind. The summer sun?s beat down on that old barn till all the paint?s gone, and the wood has turned silver-gray. Now that ol? barn leans a good deal, looking kind of tired and weak, yet this stranger called that ol? barn beautiful. That set me to thinkin?. I walked out in the field and just stood there gazin? at that old barn. That stranger said he was gonna use the lumber from the barn to line the walls of his den in a new country home he was building down the road. He said money couldn?t buy paint that beautiful. Only year after year of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun could make that beautiful barn wood. That?s when it came to me that we?re a lot like that old barn, you & I. Except it?s on the inside of us that the real beauty grows. Soon, we turn silver gray, too. And we lean a bit more than we did when we were young and full of sap. But the good Lord knows what he?s doin. He always has. And as the years have passed, He?s been busy using the hard weather of our lives, the dry spells and the stormy seasons to beautify our souls like nothing else can possibly do. Think how often folks holler that they?d like life to be easy. Some folks came and took the old barn down this week and hauled it away to beautify a wealthy man?s house. I reckon one day, you & I will be hauled off to Heaven to take on whatever chores the good Lord has for us in that land of glory. And I?d suspect we?ll be more beautiful for the seasons we?ve been through here. Just maybe, we?ll add a bit of beauty to our Father?s house. May there be peace within you today. May you learn to trust in God that you are exactly where you?re meant to be. I do thank God in Heaven for my wonderful family & friends that love and care for me even though I show signs of weathering. Have a blessed day. That?s this morning?s Small Town Soap Box.