Merry Christmas to all my readers out there!

Tis the season for giving.

Some may find it a little tight to give because of all the hurricanes that happened just a few months ago.  I mean, there were more hurricanes than normal in one year.  There was around 5 altogether; but 3 major one that affected the United States.  I can’t remember all the names for them, but you will get the message.

The first hurricane hit Houston, Texas.  (Houston we have a problem.)  That hurricane really took a lot of fundraiser to help with the victims.  Everyone around the country band together to raise support for the victims in Houston.

Then when the second hurricane hit somewhere in Florida, I think the people thought, “here we go again.”

But then when the third hurricane hit Putirico (pardon my spelling), they seems to got lost in the shuffle.  There was war with words with Pres. Trump.  They are still struggling to recover.  Some may compare that hurricane disaster to Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans.  It seems that since it is/was a poor country, it doesn’t matter.  Lives matter: even if you are rich or poor.

The Red Cross had gotten a bad rap because of the hurricane that hit Houston.  I don’t know the whole story, so I won’t go into it.

If you ask me though, I wouldn’t trust FEMA.  FEMA did a lousy job in helping in New Orleans after Katrina.  No thanks to Pres. George W. Bush.  FEMA is a government organization we can do without.

Enough on that, let us get to the mail point of this blog.

This is time of year for giving.  When you give, give from the heart.  Remember, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave us His one and only son.”

Because of that sacrifice, shouldn’t we do the same in our giving?

As Billy Ray Cyrus sang, “Some gave all.”  I’m not just talking about Jesus.  I’m also talking about our veterans.  Many had lost their lives in wars throughout history.

When you give do not let your right hand knows what your left hand is doing according to the Bible.  You must give from the heart.

Yet there are people who would give this time of year; just so they can write it off in their taxes and then brag about it by saying, “See I give to those in needs.”

Do you know what the Lord will say to that?  I know you not.  You had your rewards.

Those who gives without expecting anything in return, the Lord will surely bless them.  Their rewards will be in heaven as well as on earth.  Think about the rich man and the poor man in the Gospel.  The rich only gave a small percentage; but whereas the poor man, gave what he had.  Or how about the poor widow, who only had enough to feed her and her son?  When Elijah came, he blessed them and they had more than enough.  Who do you think received the most blessings?

This is the time of year that the Salvation Army is out with their red bucket ringing the bell.  As you know, Target doesn’t allow Salvation Army to ring the bell in front of the store.  Are they Scrooge or what?

Then what about Wal-Mart, those who ring the bell there have to stand outside in the cold.  They have the space to let them be inside.  They just don’t have the heart of compassion.

There are stores, such as Kmart, that allows Salvation Army to be inside the front entrance to ring the bell.  May the Lord bless them!

This year giving to Salvation Army bell ringers were down a little.  Part of it was because people tap out financially.  I think the real reasons are:  People ordering on-line for one.  Also people doesn’t carry cash as much as they used to.  Everybody is using the credit or debit card.  It’s quick and easy.  I think it’s one of the reason for the debt this country has.

I won’t go too far into this because that is whole different blog.

Whenever I hear Secret Santa story, it melts my heart.  It’s good to see people giving to those in needs and not expecting anything in return.  That is what Jesus expects from us too.  He expects us to give from the heart.  He expect us to give without expecting anything in return.

Remember, Jesus gave His all so that we can have eternal life with Him.  He didn’t much care for the religious leaders of His days.  He called them hypocrite.  He said that it was the Samaritan who reach out to help the victim of the assault in the Good Samaritan story.

Don’t just give this time of year, give all year long.  You will be bless.  When you give, don’t expect anything in return either.  Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing either.  Give from the heart!

Also when you give to certain organization, make sure that you do your research first.  You want to make sure what give gets to where it is needed.

When I give, I usually give through my church, or Salvation Army or even Dakota Boys Ranch, because I can trust that it will goes to where it’s suppose to go to.  It’s also causes I believe in.

I’m not saying this to be bragging.

Once again Merry Christmas to you all!!  Remember, give from the heart without expecting anything in return.

 

The new Star Wars movie comes out this weekend.  You will even love it or hate it.

This is the last Star Wars movie that the late Carrie Fisher made before her untimely death last year.  So it’s must see to see how they handle her death; or will they do more with the next one?

Star Wars is the most popular movie in history.  It had the highest box office draw to date.  With Stars Wars, it made George Lucas and Steven Spielberg very famous.  It also made stars out of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill;  along with the other stars.

Before Star Wars, Carrie Fisher was just known as Debby Renalds and Eddie Fisher daughter.  She had her shares of problems but who hasn’t. She will be loved and remembered.  She had been diagnose with some form of mental illness as well; but she had talent as well.

It was very sad a year ago when she died and then few days later, her mother had passed from a broken heart.  Her and her mother were very close; and that is very rare in Hollywood.  Enough on Carrie Fisher, because it’s a different blog altogether.

Stars Wars first came out in the late ’70’s and early ’80’s.

Remember, when President Reagan was president is Nuclear arms treaty with the old Soviet Union was called, “Stars Wars.”  So he must had been a fan of Star Wars.

I, myself, preferred Star Trek; especially the original one with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.  Don’t get me wrong, Stars Wars was good too.

The original Star Trek, I don’t know how to describe it, was kind of more believable.  Remember, I’m no science geek,  so what am I to know about science fiction.  I do know this, I there are some science fiction I do like.  Especially if the story is good.

I think the reason why Stars Wars had lasted so long in popularity was because it was well written.  They kept you coming back for more.  Now that is a good writer.

Remember, Darth Vader wasn’t revealed to Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia’s father until the third Star Wars movie.  Also in that movie, it was revealed that James Earl Jones was the voice of Darth Vader.

Then in the late ’90’s they created prelude to Stars Wars.  It shown how Darth Vader had came about and how he became evil.  Hayden Christensen did an excellent job as an young Darth Vader.

Now most recently they continue the Star Wars saga and brought back Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford.

I yet to see the last Star Wars movie and would love to see this one just to see they handle Carrie Fisher death if not anything else.  I want to see how they keep the story going.

It’s like reading a good book.  If it’s well written, you don’t want to put it down.  You want to continue reading until the end.

This is what I hope for my blog, that people will keep on reading it and tells others about it as well.  As it said on my home page, my blog is my platform.

Have you ever wonder what people were thinking?

I’m not a counselor; even though I took Psychology in college. I even took Sociology.  This is more of a tongue in cheek blog.  A little lighter after the last 2 blogs.

It had been about year since they torn down the old strip mall next to Kmart in South Fargo.  They torn it down to rebuild, because it made more sense to rebuild than to remodeled.  Well nothing was done.  It is just an ugly empty lot there now.  What was they thinking?  They could be making money from the businesses that were there until they were ready to rebuild.

Was the owner waiting for Kmart to close so that they can get the whole lot?  They also  wanted Burger King too.

The rumor going around was that Petco was going to open a second store there.  There was also talk that McDonalds was going to move from their old location because easy access.

There had been other places that were torn down and had taken awhile before anything was done.  The old Holiday Mall in South Moorhead for example was torn down.  It took awhile for anything came about over there.

There was small trailer court near Kmart that was sold and everyone had to moved out.  It took awhile before anything was actually done.  the original plan had fallen through.

Where Kmart is, is a prime real estate.  There is really no competition near by.  If they close Kmart, what will the people do in the area.  We are people of convenience.

At one time Kmart was a prosper business.  What was they thinking?  They should never had build out Sears.  That was their downfall.  Sure I may been hard on Kmart in past blogs.  It’s not Kmart, it’s the management.  It starts at the top.  Kmart is being run into the ground.

Not too long ago there was a woman in North Fargo that was killed and her baby taken from.  What happened was very bizarre.  Something out of a horror/mystery novel/movie.  You wouldn’t think something like that would happen in Fargo.  What was the woman who did the killing thinking?  Her boyfriend was just an accomplish.  Was she sick with mental illness?

Look at the 2008 election:  what was people thinking when Obama got elected?  I’ll let you know why I voted for him.

I was going to vote for Rudy Guillanie, because I like what he did for New York City after 9/11.  It just seems that he gave up, because he was doing so well.  When that happened, John McCain got his second wind to get the nomination.  What was Rudy thinking?  He could had been President.

When that happened, the people saw Obama as someone different.  He ran on the motto change.  There was no change though.  He proved that he was more of the same.

Remember, the tea party started under Pres. George W. Bush and really started growing ever since.

That is why in 2016, Trump won over Hillary.  Trump only said what the people was thinking.

Have you ever waited to cross the street at the corner and had someone waved you across?  I have that happened. One time I even cross but it turned out to be mistake because cars on the other side had no intention of letting you cross.  So now when they waved me across and I happened to see another car on the opposite side, I just point at the car as to say, “don’t you see?”  Do they think that they are being nice?  They are just being pure stupid.

How about those who wait until the last minute to get their Christmas shopping done?  Do they actually think they are going to get what they want on sale?

I got news for them.  They won’t find it cheaper. Businesses just raise the prices up.  Besides, they may end up finding the shelves empty, because they waited until the last minute.  So instead getting what you want to get someone for Christmas; you ended up getting a “white elephant” gift that no one wants.

I always start early with my Christmas shopping and beat the rush.

Us men can do stupid things when trying to win a woman over.

I can go on with this wide topic of what were they thinking; but I think you get the message.

 

To all you managers and business owners out there, here is my advice to you.  Happy employees leads to productive employees.  If you want good results from your employees, you must treat them well.

To all those who works for tyrants(slave master), managers are only looking out for #1.  They are only interested in making a profit for themselves. They are not to be your friends.  You can be acquaintance.  I’m not saying that you can’t get along with them. What I’m saying is you need to stand up for yourself.  Whatever you want from your employers, you must stand up to them.  You must not let them take advantage of you.

Years ago, business owners took better care of their employees.  They cared for them and their family.  There are a few exception though.  Ebenezer Scrooge is one prime example and so is the Grinch that stole Christmas.

We all know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and how he was visited by the 3 ghosts.  Those visits change his views on Christmas.

Businesses used to give out Christmas bonuses and had Christmas parties for their employees.  It was there way of showing appreciation for all your hard work throughout the year.  You would even gets your birthday off with pay.

I have to say, why this may  had stop was because the Government had stuck their nose into businesses.  They put too much government regulations and taxes.  Government shouldn’t force businesses owner to provide health insurance and give raises.  By forcing them, they’ll do it but they will cut back help.  They would rather have a skeleton crew and work with less workers they have as slaves than pay out into all the government regulations.

You got to remember they are out to make a profit too.  It’s a crying shame that it comes down to that.  You can blame our government; especially those Leftist in Washington.

This past week I recently stood up for myself.  The manager a Kmart had been scheduling employees icky hours on the day that we get a truck, like 12pm to 8:30.  With those hours you can’t do anything and it even affect your sleeping and eating pattern.  Well, this past week I was scheduled for the morning shift; so I took advantage of it and made plans for that afternoon.  When the manager called me and told me that the schedule was being change, I told him that I made other plans.  I can tell that he wasn’t happy but he couldn’t really say anything.

I have to admit because of these icky hours, I’m becoming burn out.  On my day off, I don’t want to go their for fear that they might make me work.

There is no more incentives in busting yourself  at work.

Oh sure in October, they tried to show a little appreciation for us employees but a lot of us thought; it was just a big joke.  The manager wasn’t really sincere.  A raise or bonus would had been better.

Sometimes when the manager calls, I don’t really want to answer my phone.  They may wonder why.  We are tired of being treated as slaves.

Slavery went out after the Civil War.  Yet business owners or managers still feels they have the right to treat you like slaves.  The best movie, most recently, was “The Help.”  It should had won an Oscar.  Even though, it was based in the ’60’s; it is still true today.

I now understand why some people take up drinking.  Some do it because of their job.  If it wasn’t for the Fargo Dome to ease my sanity; I probably become an alcoholic.

I’m digressing, forgive me.

The last time I had a Christmas bonus was when I used to worked at the Fargo Country Club.  It wasn’t a real bad place.  I just got burned out. It was like a dysfunctional family.  Believe me, they took advantage of me there too.  So when I had the opportunity for a better paying job with decent benefits, I took it.

My mother, at first, couldn’t understand why I would leave the Country Club for Concordia.  Then again, she was from a different generation.  The generation she was from hung on to their job for as long as they could.  People doesn’t stay at a job for very long like they used because of constantly looking for something better.

My mother had been working at Quality Bakery for 30 some years.  The owners took advantage of her big times and she let them.  She would used the excuse, oh they’re friends, or they were paying for her health insurance.  That was why she was only getting $8 something/ hour.

They took advantage of her loyalty and they should be a shame of themselves.  Friends don’t take advantage of friends.  I have no respect for the owner of Quality Bakery for the way they treated my mother.  I hope they feel so guilty.

I understand that they were just looking out for #1, themselves.  My mother was just as guilty by letting it happen.

I may not be the employers favorite because I’m learning to stand up for myself.  Some may say that I have an attitude.  I’m just looking out for #1 as well.  Somebody got to.  You can’t count on your employer to look out for you or your better interest.

It’s like those who have their own business.  I don’t care what kinds of business it is.  You are there to make a profit or make ends me.  They are not your friends, they are your clients.  You can get along with them.  Which is always good, just don’t get too friendly that they will walk all over you.  That is what they will do too.

As long as you worked hard and is dependable they can’t really fire you.  You won’t be treated with favoritism. They will see you with an attitude problem.  Hopefully, they’ll come to realize that you are just standing up for yourself.

Hollywood has always been known for their casting couch.  Throughout the history of Hollywood many stars have been on the casting couch with the producers, directors and/or even fellow actors.  That was the way to get the part they wanted.  They had to perform by doing sexual favors.

The sex scandals involving Harvey Weinstein and others in Hollywood is nothing new.  Stars of the past all had slept there way up on the casting couch.  Stars like Marilyn Monroe and others like her.  Not just actresses but actors as well.

So the sex scandal involving Kevin Spacey is also nothing new either.  It just in the old days it was kept hush, hush; especially when it came to men on the casting couch.

This blog is coming at a perfect time too.  Not only is all these sex scandals going on; so is the Miss Universe pageant on tonight.  These beauty pageant treats women as sex object.  What men doesn’t like looking at beautiful women in a bikini?

I’m not dismissing these women allegation, by no means.  Matter of fact, more power to them.  No one deserve to be abused sexually, mentally, physically, and verbally.  It’s time that the victims speak up.

Maybe one of these times I may share my story.  It just that since I’m dealing with social media and there are people who gets bullied through the social media as well as otherwise.  So you may have to wait until I feel the time is right.  If I ever share my story or not.

This casting couch goes even beyond Hollywood.  It’s also in our political realm as well.  We all know about former President Bill Clinton or even Supreme Court Judge, Clarence Thomas.  Now there is Senator Roy Moore and Senator Al Franklin.

One is a Republican and other is a Democrat.  The Democrats doesn’t even want to think about Al Franklin.  Like what is good for goose is good for the gander.

Since they are big famous and powerful people under the sex scandal; it just seems to be just talk.  Will anything really be done?  I mean if they were everyday person with not much money and power, they would be automatically be sent to prison and label a sex offender.  There is no equal treatment for justice sake.

Women are not the only victims out there.  Men are victimize too.  There are women who abuse men/boys as well.  You heard about the teacher who molested her male student.  There is just a stigmatism that keeps boys from admitting that they are victims.

So I am glad that those young men came out after Kevin Spacey for what he did to them.

This is very tough for me write, so bear with me please. I’m trying not to keep this from being too personal at this time.

There are other ways that abuse happen as well.  People are abuse on the job.  Some lives in abusive relationship.  Some of those who lives in abusive relationship don’t even  know how to get out of it.  They become co-dependent.  Some may even say that there is no physical abuse.  Even though there is emotional and mental abuse.  Some who lives in an abusive relationship, grew up in it as well.

Daughters will marry someone like there fathers and sons marry someone like their mothers.  There is an abuse pattern that draws them together.  Unless there is help to break the pattern, the abuse will continue.

My mother grew up with an abusive father and she, herself married someone who is abusive and controlling.  Even though, she was a feminist and very much independent; she was also co-dependent as well.  It didn’t just affected her home life; it’s also affected her job as well.  That is a whole different blog and so I won’t go there.

Like I said I’m glad that these women are speaking out against their perpetrators.  I’m even happy that some men are doing it also.  I’m for taking back your life.  As I talk in past blogs, It’s time we take back America.  Well those who are victimize needs to take back their lives as well.

I have nothing against women becoming President.  I mean, I voted for Elizabeth Dole in 2000.  I just couldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton because she was just the wrong person with too much baggage.

My big thing about this whole sex abuse scandal going on that it will get blown out of proportion.  Look at the child abuse.  When I was a kid, child abuse was like this sex scandal involving the casting couch today, very hush, hush.

Country legend, Loretta Lynn was 13 when she married.  Back then it was ok. I have an older brother who was 21 when he married his wife when she was pregnant and was only 17.  If that would happen today, he would had went to prison and been registered as a sex offender.

Another thing that concerned me involving this whole thing.  There are men, like me who finds it difficult with intimacy.  I have had woman that I was interested in.  I just couldn’t bring myself to get intimate with.  This is why I’m still single.  I can share my opinion, I just can’t become intimate.  I can be a good friend with a woman.  I just don’t want to overstep my boundary.

The last woman I was close to was Danielle.  She had been to my apartment and I have been to hers.  We had talked.  I even let her used my phone.  I saw that she was upset; so I asked her is she needed a hug.  I admit as red-blooded male, it felt of so good to have her in my arms; but I never took it any further than that.  I even made a strawberry margarita and brought it over to her apartment.  I just couldn’t bring myself to get intimate with her.

Back when I went to college at NDSU, I was friends with an older woman, named Susan.  She was part of the Goldstar band. We would eat supper together in the same dining hall.  We even went roller skating where we held hands while roller skating.  Peer pressure ruin that relationship for me.  I should had never fallen for peer pressure from the other guys in my dorm.

There was other women also; but I’m not going there.

So you see sometimes peer pressure can make us men monsters just as well.

Nobody deserve to be rape or abuse.  I don’t care who it is.  I don’t care if you are a woman, a child, or a man.  These people of power who are abusing and taking advantage of women or anybody must be held accountable for their action.

Thank you for taking a stand!

Happy Thanksgiving to all reading this blog and all my others blogs!

It seems that Thanksgiving has lost it’s true meaning today.  It’s not a special holiday it used to be.

When the Pilgrims first came over to this country on the Mayflower.  They left England because of religious persecution.  They landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts.  They befriended the Indians when they came to this country. It was the Indians that taught them about gardening and living off the land.  If they put a fish in the soil as they plant corn or whatever, it will help produce a good crops.

They had some rough years and times before their bounty came in.  When the harvest finally came, it was time to celebrate.  Thus became the first Thanksgiving.  They celebrate Thanksgiving with a feast that they share not just with families, but also with friends and neighbors.  They made friends with the Indians and celebrate Thanksgiving with them.

Years later, under Pres. Abe Lincoln, he proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving.

It all changed now, as Thanksgiving seems to got lost in translation.  Greed seems to set in.  People doesn’t seems to get together much anymore.  This became the downfall of this country.

First, when stores were allowed to be open on Sunday.  Then soon stores chose to be open on Thanksgiving.  Business chose on making a profit over family spending time together and giving thanks.

I heard that Kmart was one of the first retail stores that decided to be open on Thanksgiving.  When I first started working at Kmart, over 11 years ago, the store was closed on Thanksgiving.  We had to worked overnight to get ready for the big Black Friday sales though.

It seems Black Friday had fast became the biggest national retail holiday ever.  People would stand in line practically all night and wait until the stores open; just so they can get the best deals ever.  Don’t they realize that they may get things on sale, but really there is no real deal.  Businesses jot the prices up high first than they put it on sale.

I never shop Black Friday until I worked overnight at Kmart.  Then, since I was already in the store anyway, I took advantage of the Black Friday sales while I was there.

Let me tell you something about Black Friday.  It’s very tiresome and stressful.  When it’s over you just want to curl up in bed and sleep.

Soon retail had a crazy thought in their head to try to beat the Black Friday sales rush.  Now that is down-right greedy.  They don’t care about family.  They just care about the money.

Kmart made a decision to be open around 6am on Thanksgiving Day and remained open Friday at midnight when they first decided to be opened on Thanksgiving Day.  When that the employees practically worked around the clock on very little sleep and under lots of stress.

Other stores soon followed but not as long as Kmart.  Some opened at 6pm Thanksgiving Day, and some opened at 11pm or midnight.

Now some businesses are slowly wising up.  Some are choosing not to open up at all on Thanksgiving Day.  Mills Fleet Farm, which is an employee run store is one of the first store that will not be open on Thanksgiving Day.

This year more stores are joining the bandwagon and not open on Thanksgiving Day.  Check your listing to see what stores were smart and what stores were greedy.

Another bad holiday for stores to be open is Christmas Eve.  If you are not done Christmas Shopping by Christmas Eve with gifts, the meals, decoration, cookies, etc. Then you need psychological help.  Get your shopping done early!  Beat the rush!

If you are thinking, oh I might get what I want on sale, think again.  Businesses jack the prices up even higher.  When the product is gone is gone.  All the good stuff will be gone before you know it.  You have no right to bitch and complain that you didn’t get that item you wanted to buy.  So don’t blame the retails and the employees for your stupidity.

I always start early with my Christmas shopping.  Now I’m pretty much done; except for few gift cards.  I’m not a big shopper.  I go in, get what I want and get the hell out.  Retail probably hates me and I work in retail.

If you really feel sorry for those who have to work on Thanksgiving, I have this one thing to say.  Don’t shop on Thanksgiving Day!!. Don’t say, “what you are open?”  Businesses are open because people are dumb enough to shop on Thanksgiving.  That is how greed had set in and ruin Thanksgiving.

It’s time the people take back Thanksgiving and bring it to the way it was meant to be.  It’s time we share Thanksgiving with our friends and family, like the pilgrims did the first Thanksgiving.  That’s how we take back America and make America great again.

You may not want to spend time with your family but do it anyway.  Especially if you truly feels sorry for those who have to work on Thanksgiving.  Put a love in your heart!

 

President John F. Kennedy, the last great Democratic President.  He died too young by an assassinated bullet.  He was a Nationalist.  He was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963.

I have always been fascinated with the Kennedys.  They had this beautiful American dream story.  Joseph Kennedy Sr., was an Irish Immigrant.  He also served as an ambassador to Ireland.

I loved how they started to get where they are today.  Even though, there was some illegal things that they were involved in, like bootlegging and the mob.

Rose Kennedy was a strong mother figure that really knew how to groom her kids to make them presentable.  She kind of reminds me of Queen Elizabeth.

They did have a daughter that was mentally unstable.  Back then, it was common knowledge that if anyone had a mental illness, they were lock up in an Institution and even sterilize so that they couldn’t have any kids.  The daughter name was Rosemary.  Because of Rosemary, Eunice Kennedy started up the special Olympic.  I had volunteered for the special Olympic to help out with those with special needs.

I think one of the reason I was fascinated with the Kennedys, was because I have some similarity or connection with them one way or another.

The Kennedy was a big family, with around 12 kids.  My mother came from a big family, with 11 kids, 2 died as babies.  When I look at old photos of my mother’s family, it’s kind of make think of the Kennedys.

John F. Kennedy was a sickly child with different ailments, growing up.  I also was a sickly child myself.  My life was almost similar to John.

Joseph Jr. was killed during the war, so John, nickname Jack was soon groomed to become President of the United States.  John met and married Jacky in the ’50’s.  They had more than 2 kids but 2 lived. John Jr. and Katherine were treated like royalty in this country.  No other President’s kids were treated like that.

John F. Kennedy was the youngest President elected.  He was the first Irish Catholic President.  No one expected him to even be elected President.  He was a Nationalist.  He was one of the greatest President.  Some may wonder what he done to make him so great.  He just never live long enough to see his greatness through.  He was taken from us way too soon.

Another connection I have with the Kennedys is this.  When John and Bobby Kennedy were in Fargo, ND, they stayed at the old Gardner Hotel.  My mother was working there at the time that they were staying there.  She was one of the cooks there.  So you see, she cooked for the Kennedy’s even for a short time.

President Kennedy stood up to the Russians and put an embargo on Cuba, during the Cuban crisis.  It was under Obama that the embargo was lifted off Cuba.

President Kennedy was responsible in setting up program to help the American people.  He just never lived long enough to see it through.

Even though Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy tried to hide the mental illness in their family, some of the kids still loved and was very close to their sister, Rose.  John was one who very close to his sister, Rose.

President Kennedy was the last President to be against the Federal Reserves.  The Federal Reserves came from Paris, France.  President Thomas Jefferson was the first President to be against it.  He saw the Federal Reserve to be corrupted.

From the internet movie, “Thrive”, President Kennedy may had been killed because of being against the Federal Reserve.

There is a bunch of conspiracy to why Pres. Kennedy was assassinated.  The Federal Reserve was one.  It’s almost like when a person takes on a big organization, that organization would stop at nothing to stop them.  The Established Republicans didn’t care for Reagan and they sure don’t care for Trump.

If you take on big organization they’ll either kill or make you just disappear.

The similarity between Kennedy and Lincoln is very strange.  Not only were they elected about 100 years apart.  They both had a vice-President with the last name Johnson.  Both Johnson were not really big fans of their President.  Lincoln had a Kennedy on his staff that warned him not to go to the theater.  Kennedy had a Lincoln that warned him about going to Dallas.  They both were shot in the back.

When Andrew Johnson became President, he was soon impeached after he was being investigated into the assassination of Lincoln.  When Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President, he was very much concerned the same thing would happen to him.  So he took steps to protect himself.

Some may say that the mob was behind in the killing of Kennedy as well, because he tried to disassociated himself from them.

Some even thinks that the Cubans and Russians were behind in the assassination.  So once again the Russians got blame for interfering into America’s politics; like they was with the last election.

The day President Kennedy was assassinated was one of the saddest day in history. Many have cried.  My only uncle left, the one who is a die-hard Republican really wept when Kennedy was killed.

Then in 1968, John’s brother, Bobby Kennedy was also assassinated as he ran for President.  It was almost like whoever was behind the killing of President Kennedy felt they better stop Bobby before he became President.

Edward Kennedy didn’t lived up to the legacy of his brothers, John and Bobby.  He was more of a Socialist/Liberal.  Whereas both John and Bobby were Conservative.  Plus, Edward had too much baggage to keep him from ever becoming President.  I think the younger Kennedys also had a hard time to live up to both John and Bobby as well.  Even though, John Jr. was being groomed to run for President, even though he may not had wanted it at first.  John Jr. and Katherine were treated like a prince and princess in this country.  When John Jr. was killed in a plane crash, the Kennedy dreams died with him.

Pres. Kennedy was the last great Democratic President.  Today’s Democrats would not accept him because he was too conservative for them.  Even though they may acknowledge him.

Today’s Republicans may acknowledge Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and even Ronald Reagan; but they will not accept them today. And those three will not approve of the Established Republicans.

Anymore than Pres. Kennedy would approve of today’s democrats.

You saw the connection I had with John F. Kennedy.  So in a way, both Bill Clinton and I had a connection with Pres. Kennedy.

I may be a Republican but I’m also an admire of the Kennedys as well.

 

There are many different religion out there; as I found out while studying world religion and even reading recently the book, “Faith to Faith.”  My mother was on to something when she would say it’s not her religion.  The only thing different she was referring to denomination at the time.  There are many different denominations out there.  This is not to discuss denomination.  I will choose to discuss religion as a whole.

There is one heart, many hands!  There is so many different religion out there; but they all worship God in their own way.  All these religions are connected.  Yet these so-called religious leaders doesn’t want to see it.

There are too many to name, but I will name a few.

Hinduism is a religion that originated in India.  To them, the cow is sacred.  They also believe when one pass away from this life, they will have the opportunity to move on to a better next life.  Until they are one with God.

This sound familiar to the Catholics belief in purgatory.  The Catholics believe that when a person dies, they entered purgatory first and the church and family pray for them to get to heaven.  People don’t become saints until they get out of purgatory.  To me or anybody else, Mother Theresa was already a saint for the great works she done in Calcutta.  Now to the Catholic, it was a few years after she died before she was considered a saint.

Buddhist is a religion that has it’s origin in the Asia’s country.  There is some similarity to Hinduism.  They have a statue of a Buddha .

This is similar to the Christian faith.  The Christian has a cross which stands for Jesus death on the cross.

There is Confucius.  This religion also has it’s home in the Asia country.  The leader or founder was a prophet.  He had a bunch of wise sayings to live by and follow.

Once again, the Christians has the Bible and even the book of Proverbs, that is similar to Confucius.

Now let us talk about the 3 religion that everyone knows about, because of being in the news.  First, the Muslims has it’s origin to Abraham and through Ishmael.  Ishmael was Abraham’s son through Hagar, who was a maidservant of Abraham.  He was Isaac’s older brother.

Now the Jews also saw Abraham as their father and father of all nation.

Even the Christians recognize Abraham.  Even though Christians came about from the New Testament and through Jesus Christ.

So you see, Muslims, Jews, and Christians are very much connected.

Even though the radical Muslims doesn’t want to see it that way.  Then again, even the Jews and some Christian leaders doesn’t want to see it that way.

Not all Muslims are terrorist. It is the radical Muslims that are the terrorist.  They are reasons that the Muslims gets a bad rap.  A true Muslims are peaceful loving people.  They are just upset with the Jews because they felt that they got left out of God’s promise.

It was the Jews that crucified Jesus.  Even though, He was the promised Messiah, they feared Him and had a hard time in believing He was the one.

There are Christians out there that gives Christians a bad name.  Some Christians can be as bad as the radical Muslims.

We now comes to the part of many religions but only one God.  We all worship God in our own way.

Jesus Christ was accused by the Jewish leaders of His days of being friends with the lowest of the low.  The Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans, because they felt that they were beneath them.  Yet Jesus sat and talk with a Samaritan woman at the well.  Jesus ate with tax collectors and other sinners that the Jews considered to be unclean.  Remember, Jesus came not just for the healthy, but for all.  All have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God.

If Jesus was here, flesh and blood, I believe that today’s religious leaders will still have problems with Him.  He would be continuing doing what he did back in His days. Jesus would sit with a homosexual or someone who practice a different religion and be criticize for it.

Remember Martin Luther start the Reformation; which was the start of the Lutheran church, that broke off from the Catholic church.  The pope at the time was very upset with Martin Luther.

This was the start of many different denominations out there.

I think this why churches today have a hard time in keeping and getting young people in the church.  The so-called religious leaders are playing god.  They are making rash judgement.

The church as a whole needs another shakeup like the Catholic church did because of Martin Luther.

Young people today are searching for something or spiritual answers.  They are just not finding it in the church.  It’s like the book, “Siddartha,”  by Herman Hesse.  Siddartha was a young man searching for answers.

The so-called religious leaders are scaring the young away from the church, instead of welcoming and accepting them.

I believe that is why all these cults are taking our young people.  They are giving them the answers they are searching for.  Even though, it’s a false hope.

These so-called religious leaders makes people feels like ballerina. You got to dance around on your tiptoes.  They are quick to judge, if you don’t live up to their expectation.  I knew a former pastor who was that way.

This is not what Jesus wants for His followers.

I may be a Christian, but I’m not happy with organized religion and these so-called religious leaders out there.  I almost left the church I was going to because of  this.  I still believe in Jesus and in God.  I just didn’t want much to do with the church.

So you see, some these Christians are no better than the radical Muslims.  The radical Muslims even attack their own people.  Just like some Christians attack their own people.  We all grows in our faith differently.

As I said in last week blog, these so-called Christian leaders would disapprove with something if they don’t agree with it.  What they don’t understand, they disapprove of.

Don’t get me wrong, there are Christians out there that is very open and less judgmental.

I think the reason why Prairie Heights is doing as well as they are is because they are trying to follow the principles of Jesus and the Bible.  I believe that Bridgepointe Community is now trying to do the same.

I could go with this topic because it’s so broad.  I won’t though.  I will leave some for a later date and a different blog in the future.

 

 

 

Happy Halloween!!  It’s the witching hour!  I got a spell on you!

Witches is not only a symbol for Halloween.  The practice of witchcraft had been around for a long time.

Some people associate witches as a bad swear word; as if to say, “she is a witch.”  As if you are calling her a bitch.  This blog is not about that though.

Let me take you back to when this country was first founded in the 1600’s.  I never studied that in history, because history kind of left it out.  Some of the best literature came about during the Salem Witchcraft trials.

During that time, women were accused of witchcraft by the religious leaders in that time.  The religious leaders were known as the Puritans.  The leader was Cotton Mathers.

How this came about was young people was becoming mysteriously sick.  They couldn’t figure out why; so they came up with the accusation of witches.  They felt that those women were dancing and making out with the devil; thus becoming witches.

Once they were accused of practicing witchcraft, they were sentence to be burn at the stake.  They never had a fair trial.

Much was the same way back in Jesus days. One of the things that the religious leaders, the Pharisees, accused Jesus of was so-called witchcraft.  They didn’t want to believe that he was able to heal people through the power of God.  Those Pharisees did all they can to discredit Jesus, but His followers grew in numbers.  So the last resort, was to crucify Him on the cross to get rid of Him.

Much was the same with the Salem Witchcraft trial in the 1600’s.  This still happens today as well.

If our so-called religious leaders don’t agree with something they will stop at nothing to put a stop to it.

In 1925,there was The Scopes trial” which was known as the Trial of the century.  A movie was made about it.  It was about a school teacher that taught evolution in school.

Or how about when the movie/play by Andrew Lloyd Webber produced, “Jesus Christ, Superstar.”  The religious leaders protested that movie.

Than when the DaVinchi Code was published, the Catholic Church was one of the biggest opponent of that book/movie.

Few years ago, when Harry Potter first came out, the religious leaders protested the movie, because of the practice of witchcraft in it.  Yet when “The Lord of the Rings came out a month later; the religious leaders said boo.  They both had wizardly and even practice witchcraft.

If you asked why Harry Potter but not the other, they’ll tell you, “The author of the Lord of the Rings was a Christian and the author of Harry Potter wasn’t.”  Now isn’t that judging?

What does Jesus say about judging?

Judge not, lest ye be judge.  Jesus even criticize the Pharisees of judging others.  He even said to get the speck out of your eyes before judging others.

I believe that if Jesus was walking flesh and blood with us today, he would also goes after our religious leaders as well.

I like Harry Potter as much as the Lord of the Ring.  To me the theme of Harry Potter wasn’t the idea of practicing witchcraft.  It was good vs evil.

I think anything that the religious leaders doesn’t agree with or approve of.  They are going to be against.  To me, that is the work of the devil.  The devil wants to bring division.  That way he can divide and conquer.

The religious leaders doesn’t care much for magic or even magicians.  They never did when Apostle Paul was alive and preaching the gospel.

If there is any miraculous healing going on, the religious leaders would try to diffuse it as being of God; but rather of the devil.

I believe in miraculous healing.  I believe in the supernatural.  I believe people can heal in whatever means, being reiki or whatever else.

I could go on with this against the religious leaders but there is so much to talk about.  Next week, I will be continue talking about religion.  There is many religions out there.  But they all serve one God.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween out there!!  Have fun!  Continue reading my blogs, and I will continue putting a spell on you.

Don’t the religious leaders knows by protesting a book or movies, it will only make people wants to read or watch it even more.

It’s that time of year again.  It’s another World Series coming up this coming week.  Baseball is as American as apple pie and momma. The World Series may not get as much viewers as the Super Bowl.  I think it is because there is more quick action in football than baseball.  Baseball is a sport that everyone loves to play during the summer in the park.  People loves going to baseball games because there seems to be more action there than on TV.  I’m not saying that baseball isn’t exciting though.

This year, the playoff turned out to be very exciting.  The Minnesota Twins made it to the playoff as a wildcard team.  The last time that the Twins were in the World Series, if I remember correctly, it was either 1990 or 1992.  Believe me I was excited and I even was rooting for them to go all the way to the World Series.

In the wildcard playoff, the Twins faced a very tough opponent with the New York Yankees.  I like the Yankees, but I wanted the Twins to win.  I knew deep down the Yankees had a better shot at winning.  The reason, they have the money to pay for the best players.

Here is a little analogy involving business and life in general.

Like the movie, “Fields of Dreams”, “If you build it, they will come.”

Like anything in life, if you want something good, you must be willing to pay for it.  I think that is why the Yankees does so well, because the owner is not afraid to spend some money to get the good players.

My step-dad even said that if you want something good, you must be willing to pay for it.  If you buy junk, you’ll get junk.  He never went into debt and he never had a credit card.  When he wanted something, he saved up for it and made it a goal to pay for it up front.

A former pastor, I know, would rather buy cheap stuff, and then it would constantly needs work.  My step-dad would just call him, “cheap.”

I have to say, I think that my step-dad would be proud of my decision I made with my investment from my inheritance.  I invested wisely.

When I started out with writing my blogs, it was a leap of faith.  I knew I could get paid.  I just don’t know how much.  I even took another leap of faith, when I updated to Premium before I reach 1000 viewers. I trusted God and took the leap of faith.

The Pastor the church got now have taken his shares of leap of faith.  The church was small, but with his leap of faith, he started a food pantry that would help the people in Fargo-Moorhead.  Because of that leap of faith, the Lord been blessing the church.

Let us look at Moses in the Bible, the Lord told him to build an ark before the great flood was to come.  The people laughed at him; but he kept right on building.

Abraham is another example of taking a leap of faith.  He left his family behind to go to where the Lord had promised.  He was blessed because of his obedience.

Donald Trump also took a leap of faith when he ran for President and won.  He never really imagine that he would win.  He put his own money into the campaign as an investments.  That way, he doesn’t owe anybody anything.  He doesn’t owe the lobbyist that so many did in the past.

Now back to the World Series.  I hope you see what I was getting at here.  If you build it they will come.  If you want a winning team or anything worthwhile, you must put good money down.

To compete against Amazon, Wal-Mart, realized that that had to jump on board with the on-line order.  So right now, because of that Amazon and Wal-Mart are one and two in the highest stock value.

This year the two teams playing in the World Series are the Houston Astros and LA Dodgers.  I remember when the Dodgers were in the World Series and played against the Yankees back when Reggie Jackson was playing for the Dodgers.

Even though I’m not a big Boston Red Sox fans, I was very happy to see them win the World Series and break their curse that they had on them back when Babe Ruth played for the Yankees.

I wasn’t much of a big Braves fan either back when they had won World Series.  I didn’t care for Ted Turner, who owned the Braves.  Like I said with the Yankees, if you are willing to pay for good players or buy good things, you’ll get good stuff.

Maybe that is what the Minnesota Vikings hope to happen when they chose to build a new stadium.

I was hoping that Chicago Cubs would wound up in the World Series again.  I like the Cubs better than the White Sox.  I was very excited when the Cubs won the World Series last year and finally broke their curse that they had on them.

There curse was a little different than the Red Sox though.  The Cubs came close before.  As part of their curse, that kept the Cubs from winning, if a fan caught a ball that was meant to be caught by the Cubs player, that would cost them the game.  A few years ago, that happened and some of the fans were downright angry.  They started a riot because of it.

It been awhile since the Dodgers been in the World Series.  I don’t know if the Astros been in before or not.  So it should be good World Series; even though the Twins or the Cubs aren’t in.

So remember, if you want something good, you must be willing to pay for it.  If you build it they will come.