This post is going to be about illegal aliens. No, I’m not talking about those who might be in the U.S. now. I am going to talk about those aliens who started coming here five hundred or so years ago. Those of us who have native American roots in our bloodline know our ancestors were the real citizens of this country back then. When Christopher … Continue reading Illegal Aliens…..
Here is another picture from our October trip to northern Wisconsin. We added about 40 barns to our photo inventory on that trip. This is one of the more interesting ones. Continue reading Barns of Wisconsin
With the previous post about works being on my mind I am thinking of my Christian friend who, at least in my mind, is a “No Assembly Required” Christian. Whenever I mention works he immediately says that I must be doing works in order to gain heaven. No matter how many times I have to told him that is not the case he continues to … Continue reading Works and Heaven….
Since we are into the beginning of the Christmas season the above title came to mind. Although I was not fortunate enough to be a parent I certainly sympathize with those who are when it comes to having to assemble things like bicycles and such for their kids for Christmas. I imagine to many parents the words “No Assembly Required” is a much sought after … Continue reading Assembly Required….
This land was made for you an me. Those words were written by Woody Guthrie. He was one of my favorite songwriters. The picture (that is me in the picture) was taken in June 2009 in northern California during our month long trip out west. Continue reading To the Redwood Forests
Maybe someone can help me out with this question. Were all the Apostles baptized with water? I don’t recall seeing this in the Bible. If water baptism was so important then surely Jesus insisted that all his immediate disciples be baptized. If they were baptized this surely would have been a major event in their lives and someone would have reported it. If I change … Continue reading Were the Apostles Baptized??
Thank you Island House hotel for providing us with quality accommodations during our recent stay at Mackinac Island Michigan. Your one hundred year plus hotel is awesome. Continue reading Island House Hotel
I believe that to constantly harp about our sinful state is more harmful than anything it might accomplish. I believe that we should teach our children that they were made by God and God does not make junk. I believe that God means for each of us to accomplish certain distinct things while we are here on his earth. I believe that God is very … Continue reading I Believe…
I celebrate the peacemakers of this world. One of those groups is certainly the Society of Friends known as Quakers. As a matter of fact they have even won a Nobel Peace Price for their efforts. According to Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize should be awarded to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the … Continue reading I Celebrate the Peacemaker…
Here is one not too many people have probably seen. It is a small lighthouse in Neenah Wisconsin. The picture was taken in 1986 but it still looks the same today. Continue reading Lake Winnebago Light House
A close member of my extended family died yesterday after a long and agonizing downward spiral. For the last two years she was no longer of her own mind and became a very spiteful person. It was totally sad to see her in that state for so long. It is not that she was a superhuman before that but she was not unlike many today … Continue reading A Long and Agonizing Death…
A close member of my extended family died yesterday after a long and agonizing downward spiral. For the last two years she was no longer of her own mind and became a very spiteful person. It was totally sad to see her in that state for so long. It is not that she was a superhuman before that but she was not unlike many today … Continue reading A Long and Agonizing Death…
Here is a picture of Glacier National Park in 1990. We were there in June and still had plenty of snow to contend with. Continue reading Glacier National Park
I believe that God does not view us, his creation, as worthless miserable pieces of snot. I believe that God wants us to live to our full potential that he created us to be. I believe that God wants us to be perfect as he and Jesus are perfect. I believe that given our sinful nature we can never be perfect but that does not … Continue reading I Believe
In line with the last post about possible bias by the Gospel writers in relation to the Beatitudes let’s look at some modern day interpretations. To those of us who think one of the primary reasons Jesus came to us was to show us how to live the Beatitudes are front and center among Jesus’s words. In light of the last post I am going … Continue reading Beatitudes
Here is a picture with Yvonne and I that was taken at Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York in the early 1990s. Continue reading Fort Ticonderoga
I, like most senior citizens have my share of health related issue. Probably more than most. It seems that every time I go to the doctor lately he has diagnosed me with yet another condition! The last time he notified me that my blood sugar is on the high side of normal so he added yet another prescription to my list. I also can’t … Continue reading Don’t worry about whether you are healthy enough to do something… just do it!!
As mentioned in the last post I am in the initial process of building a slot car track in my old paint room. One important part of being retired is that I now have time to pursue things that I have enjoyed doing in the past. In my youth I built many a model car and airplane. It seemed to feed my ingrained engineering fever. … Continue reading An Inspiration….
I seem to be hobby deficient lately so have been looking for yet another hobby. Slot cars are on my mind. I have cleaned out a room in the barn to build a track. Of course I won’t look like the White Lake track about that that is a beautiful inspiration for mine. Continue reading Slots….
How much of an agenda did the original Biblical authors have when they were writing their words? Were the differing parallel verses found in the Gospel text simple misinterpretations or remembrances or were they intentionally different because of the differing views of the authors. How much different did Matthew and Luke view Jesus’ messages. Looking at the differing parallel verses of the Beatitudes found in … Continue reading Differing Parallel Verses and Theological Agendas…
My wife Yvonne’s maiden name is Wierschke. Of course that is very German in origin. I am going way way back in the photo archive to pull out the above picture. According to the note that was attached to it the picture is of her grandfather and the corresponding brothers and sisters. I don’t know exactly when it was taken but it was probably around … Continue reading German Heritage
Retirement is not a onetime thing; it is a long term process. In earlier years when I was preparing for retirement I deemed it pretty much that event where I left the workforce and collected my virtual gold watch. But after that ceremonial event is when the real thing takes place. I must admit I struggled with just what to do for the first year … Continue reading Don’t worry that you may make the wrong decisions.
Here is one of the many barn pictures we took on our recent trip to northern Wisconsin. Given the state of the barn this might be the last picture ever taken of it. Continue reading This Old Barn..
In many Bibles, some words are set apart with a red font. Why is this? It is to remind us that when God became Man and personally gave us words that those words are probably something we cannot afford to miss. So why don’t many churches today take the “red letters” to heart? Why aren’t we doing more to be Christ’s hands and feet to … Continue reading Why Red Letters??
Since the Christmas season is quickly approaching I thought I would pull this one out of the archives. This is a picture of me and Yvonne’s first Christmas together. It was taken during my first visit to the “crazy” in-laws in 1987. We both had a lot more hair and a lot less wrinkles back then! Continue reading Our First Christmas Together
I believe that all of the Bible must be viewed within the life and words of Jesus Christ. No other standard is acceptable. I believe that although well intentioned by their authors many of the words in the Bible are a distraction from the true messages of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus actually intends us to do what he said. I believe that the … Continue reading I Believe…
Jesus warned us not to pledge our allegiance to worldly things but instead to give that honor to God alone. His most often example of idolatry was money. But today there is literally a myriad of things that we have chosen to put up as idols in God’s place. One of these in my mind is the greed around the concept of universal healthcare. Jesus … Continue reading Is the Greed around Universal Healthcare a form of idolatry???
A few posts back I announced that I have given up on following or participating in politics. It has just become to grinding for me. Last night I was reading a book called The Essential Thomas Jefferson and I came across the following quote in his letter to John Randolph dated August 1775 My first wish is a restoration of our just rights (he was … Continue reading In Good Company…
Nothing better than a county fair. The kids have fun and there is lots of greasy food to eat 🙂 Continue reading County Fair…..
RJ's Corner 