The Treasure Hunt

(THIRTY-ONE) I never dreamed I would write about the ACLU and the words right, good, decent, and etcetera could be used in the same sentence. I am sure though that it is a one time event and an aberration on their part, but they are actually doing something correct. Some of these lawyers are stepping in to aid members of the LDS church against the heavy-handed and immoral actions taken by some in Texas law-enforcement. As I had earlier written, I pray that the county and its leaders in that community in Texas are all sued into a state of permanent bankruptcy.
However, the rare example of the hated ACLU doing anything that is good is not the main point of today's blog. I am writing about people who will "gag at a gnat and swallow an elephant." It always amuses me to see what liberal Democrats choose to be "outraged over." I want to use the example of Douglas Bruce, a Colorado legislator to make my point.
In a speech he said that he did not want... "5,000 more illiterate peasants" coming into their area. Of course, he was speaking of illegal aliens breaking the law and streaming into America. The paper reported that after he said this "an audible gasp" could be heard coming from this extremely liberal group of lawmakers. Give me a break!
First of all, as Mr. Bruce (later) correctly pointed out, his statement was completely factual. If you are reading this blog and do not agree that his statement was correct, then I suggest that you look his words up in a dictionary. "Illiterate" means... lacking formal education or unable to read or write. (Bingo) For the vast majority of Mexicans sneaking into our country that comment is right. What about Mr. Bruce calling these people peasants? "Peasant" means... a person who works in agricultural fields. No, tell me it's not true. Are you saying that illegals who are sneaking in from Mexico are actually used to pick beans? I never knew that. (LOL)
Never mind the fact that the statement Mr. Bruce made was correct, this ultra-liberal group (from Colorado) wants to bring some action against him for his statement: such as... suspension, censure, or expulsion. What fools liberals often are.
His correct words can bring "an audible gasp" from these liberals, but let me tell you some correct words and thoughts that I could express from the very same podium and to the very same group of liberal lawmakers and it would not cause any reaction whatsoever.
I could correctly say that 50 million babies have been brutally murdered by American doctors in the last 35 years, and no gasp would be heard coming from these liberals. I could correctly say that vacuum aspiration (commonly used in killing pre-born children) will pull with such force on a small baby that the arms and legs of the helpless child will be torn from their trunk as they are dying, and no gasp would be heard coming from these liberals. I could correctly say that a (very sharp) hollow (nail-type) instrument will be driven into the base of the skull of a full-term baby (only seconds from a healthy delivery) and this innocent child's brains will be syphoned out... resulting in their death, and no gasp would be heard coming from these liberals.
The last type of killing healthy children I just described is commonly called partial-birth abortion. This was Bill and Hillary's favorite way to kill children. Actually that last sentence may not be completely factual. I only believe it to be their favorite way to murder babies because Clinton twice vetoed a bill (sent from both houses of congress) that would have stopped this barbaric practice. However, in reality the Clinton's are for any and all means that doctors use to butcher unborn children.
Liberals will always "gag at a gnat and swallow an elephant." They get upset over correct words from a Republican lawmaker aimed at lawbreaking Mexicans but they have no moral outrage over helpless and innocent babies being tortured and killed at the hands of American doctors!
Incidentally, an online poll that registered thousands of hits had the vast majority of respondents having no problem with Mr. Bruce's comments. (61% approval, compared to 39% not approving)
Thank God, the liberals have not taken over yet. It seems that the majority of Americans are still sane and somewhat competent. I like the thought Ann Coulter had in describing the modern (and ultra-liberal) Democrat Party. I will paraphrase. "A large group of brain-damaged people got together and decided to form a voting bloc." Hilarious! (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

(THIRTY-TWO) 4/23/2008 9:00 a.m.

Have you ever thought what event would have to take place in this country in order to have people return to a more sane and thoughtful lifestyle? Could another large-scale attack, similar to 9/11, cause the mass of people to decide to live right? Perhaps a "naturally" occurring disaster such as a tsunami that would obliterate New York City might cause this to happen. Maybe "the big one" that theorists are always talking about will finally hit the West Coast: and all land from Los Angeles to San Francisco will disappear beneath the deep Pacific waters. Would a biological agent which could accidentally be released from the CDC and would kill half of the population in America do the trick? I'm not sure what it would take for the people of this country to realize that abandoning God, as a nation, was a very bad idea.
Beginning in the early '60's with laws on the books that banned God from public education to the early '70's where laws were passed that said it was right to maim, torture, and kill God's heritage, to the permissive lifestyle at present where virtually anything goes, we are a society teetering on the brink of complete moral bankruptcy. Because of our nation's moral decline, the story of Ryan Schallenberger has become mundane. Check the story out and you will see that it does not even garner front-page headlines. Why? It is just too common and we know that common things are of no value and in today's society they are not even newsworthy. The rare verses common analogy is best explained as to why gold (rare) is more valuable than tin. (common) This also explains why the majority of every person who reads this blog does not know who Ryan Schallenberger is, nor what he has done that makes him somewhat newsworthy, though not very much.
Look this name up and see what the young boy has done and then ask yourself the following question. If this same boy had done the exact same thing (he is accused of) in 1958 instead of 2008, would it have been newsworthy? The answer is a resounding yes. And not just in this country, but his story would have made major headlines worldwide. That is what I am meaning by the people of this nation needing to return to a more sane and thoughtful lifestyle.
I won't tell you what the boy is accused of doing, you will have to look the story up for yourself. However, I will tell you the root cause and the main two reasons the youth of today has a dim outlook on life in general. First: you can not devalue life by killing millions of innocent unborn babies and expect people to respect those, who, by chance or design, happened to have escaped the abortion doctor's murdering intent. Secondly: you can not keep telling impressionable young people that there is no design to the world and that everything happened by blind, random chance, and expect them to have a positive outlook on life. To say it another way: "Often tell a child that he came from a monkey, and soon he will be acting like it." (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

4/24/2008 5:05 pm

(THIRTY-THREE) Have you seen the flap in Florida over some license plates that say "I Believe" and they have a picture of a cross and a stained-glass window on it? Seems innocent enough, doesn't it? Have you ever noticed that anytime you have a person who is against anything that has to do with Christianity, it is always a Democrat. If you are a saved person who says that they love Christ, why would you be a member of a political party that always takes the ungodly side of every issue.
Have you read the reason this liberal (Democrat) politician in Florida is against these plates? She said that it is because part of the proceeds from the plates goes to support different Christian ministries. So? If you do not want to support Christian ministries with the proceeds, just do not purchase the plates. It is a choice, not something Floridians have to do.
Unlike, might I add, the money I am forced to contribute (through taxes) to the federal government, which is used by doctors to murder unborn babies. If you are a Democrat and a saved person, please write to me and give me even one story of a Democrat politician who is trying to do something in the public arena that would advance the cause of Jesus the Christ. Bet you can't do it!
Every time you see someone doing something like putting up the Ten Commandments (on public display) or anything similar to it, a Republican is doing it. Try real hard and guess which side of the aisle would be fighting such a display? The answer, of course, is Democrats would be fighting it.
If you are saved, why do you stay in a party that, more and more, are doing all things ungodly. Come on, leave the dark side and join me on the Republican side of the aisle. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

4/25/2008 1:45 a.m.

(THIRTY-FOUR) Before reading today's blog you might want to hide the women and the children. It will not be for the faint of heart as I am going to try and be totally honest with you. In part, this blog is a continuation of a conversation my middle daughter and I were having yesterday while riding in the car.
We were discussing the case of three local teenagers who were arrested yesterday in Louisville for plotting the death of a 13 year-old girl, who was a classmate to two of the would-be murderers. The group of three would-be killers, consisted of two 13 year-old girls and a 19 year-old male friend. The unsuspecting 13 year-old who was going to be murdered had her impending death planned for tomorrow, Saturday April 26th. Her offense: she was a rival and had said something mean to one of the 13 year-old, would-be murderers.
This case is not about three kids who are merely angry and loudly wishing someone dead. They had written out how they were going to kill the girl, where to dispose of her body, and what alibi each was to have during the time their crime was being committed.
Although I personally believe that all three co-conspirators ought to go to prison long enough that when they are finally released, their youth is only a distant memory. I also believe that liberal politicians and public school administrators (and teachers) ought to be sharing the time these kids serve, and do so in adjoining cells. For this last group of people have robbed the youth they were supposed to be helping of something extremely precious: hope. Let me explain.
Find 100 people on the street in any town in America and make the following statement. "Give me one illustration and a definition of the word moral." Of those people you ask, if they profess faith in a living God, they will all have similar illustrations and definitions. Why? It is because they will use absolute truth (Bible) to get their example and definition from. But, all of the people you ask that question to, who believes there is no God, are likely to have a hundred different examples and definitions. Why? It is because they are "a god unto themselves."
If God does not exist, all words such as "good," "bad," "moral," "amoral," "immoral," etcetera, have no fixed meaning. It is because all such words are "God-concept" words. Remember, without God, "survival of the fittest" is not just a catch-phrase: it is an actuality. In our own country as well as most of the world, morality is not the same for all people. Why is that? It is because those who refuse to accept (Ultimate Authority) God, as the arbiter of what is right, must turn to themselves to judge what is right. That is why I have said they become "gods unto themselves." With that understanding, please read carefully what follows.
Between 1952 and 1992 suicide among teenagers in America tripled. Today it is on the rise again, and it is the third leading cause of teens dying in America in 2008. It follows only accidental death and car crashes. Here is what I meant by liberal politicians and educators robbing young people of that precious commodity: hope.
Public school education teaches that the universe and whatever life is in it, was all a "happy accident." There is no plan or design, no Heaven or Hell, no good or bad, and certainly... no afterlife. "Better make the best of it kid, this is it." "Play hard." "He who dies with the most toys, wins." All of these same ideas are ingrained into a young and impressionable mind until a singular truth bursts forth. "The nanoseconds I have on Earth (compared to a timeless eternity) has no meaning whatsoever. So I better get mine, whatever mine is, while the getting is good."
Think about it. If all laws are only man-made, without any higher authority behind them, why do I have to obey what other men have to say? Why are they any more right, or important than I am? Why shouldn't it be the other way around, and they ought to obey me: after all, I am a man just like them. Whose to say that the laws they tell me to obey are right, come to think of it... whose to say what is right or wrong anyway? Who died and made the lawmakers boss?
If life is only a "happy accident," then I am going to be like the lion in the jungle. I will take what I want, when I want, only because I can. I will feel remorse for running down and killing my smaller prey, the same day the lion feels remorse for chasing down, killing and then consuming his smaller prey. In other words, as a member of the "happy accident family" we hilariously call... life, I am no better or worse than any animal in the jungle. Again, though, what is better or worse, aren't they just concept words and they have no fixed meaning?
I ask you again... if everything in this world happened by blind random chance and no good or bad awaits my actions, why can't I do what I want, when I want? Then, after I have had my fill of doing anything that comes into my head, I can kill myself. After all, nothing awaits me on "the other side."
In certain tribes on the other side of the world, such as the Kuman in New Guinea, it was commonly practiced that a man who had entered into a marriage could have as many sexual encounters outside of marriage as he wanted. And the wife, with her husband's permission only, could sell her body for sex to other men in the village, as long as she brought the money to her husband. Now many people in America, and all people who are saved, would believe that such practices are wrong and immoral. However, those tribes have no greater authority than themselves, so things they do that we would believe are wrong, is merely a way of life to them.
Extreme practices and lifestyles like I wrote about in the above paragraph are common practices throughout many parts of the world. I wanted to write about it to help the reader understand that without God, as Absolute Authority, there are no absolutes for mankind!
This brings me back to the "three-teen cabal" that I wanted to talk about. The government run public school system has filled the minds of young people with their agnosticism and different forms of nihilism until children's "hope" has been stolen from them. Take a gun to school and shoot up some fellow classmates and teachers? Sure, why not? Order ammonium nitrate and make some bombs which could kill hundreds? Sure, why not?
Remember: if God does not exist and all life is just a "happy accident," what hope does any person have, teen or otherwise? I will give you a brief message though that you will not hear in any government run public school in America today.
"Thank God that there is still "hope." It is in the form of the Lord Jesus the Christ. Who lived, died, and rose again to save fallen mankind from their sins. If you are a reader of this blog, won't you accept Him Today." (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

4/26/2008 12:07 a.m.

(THIRTY-FIVE) I love it whenever a black person performs what appears to be blatantly racist acts against whites, and then decries it as "racism" (at its worst) if anyone who is white does the exact same thing! Case in point would be the 80%(+) of all blacks who voted in Pennsylvania, voted for the black candidate! However, when white people vote for a white person, (even in much smaller numbers) instead of the black candidate, according to many blacks, they are showing their racist beliefs. Hilarious. The more I watch and hear about the Obama candidacy, the more I am convinced that he has the same chance of being elected president of this country, that the proverbial snowball in Hell has of surviving intact. The reason for this is that Americans, in ever growing numbers are going to begin seeing what is obviously taking place: reverse racism.
If you doubt that this is taking place, I issue a challenge and make a promise to the black community at large. My challenge would be for many blacks in the community, who are not racist (in Pennsylvania that is apparently only 15%) to stand up and admit what is taking place among their black brethren. That is my challenge and my promise to the black community. If any state where Obama runs for office he only gets 10% to 20% of the white vote which is cast, I will take out an ad in the largest newspaper in that state and talk about what a bunch of white, ignorant, bigoted people there are who live in that state. Why doesn't some of the black leaders (at least) in South Carolina and Pennsylvania do that very thing.
Wasn't this man (Obama) supposed to be a "uniter and not a divider" of people of all colors. Then, pray-tell, just how does 80% to 90% of a group with a certain skin color vote for a candidate with the same skin color, and it not be because of racism?
Let me say it another way. Since more votes (by extremely large numbers) will be cast by white people in this election is a given, if then 80% to 90% of all votes cast by white people went to a white candidate, wouldn't that be racism? Of course it would. It is because you can not get that many people from any single race which would agree with the beliefs of a man or woman who is running for office, to get them to cast their votes for only that person. Unless, there is a racial equation.
Maybe Obama entering the race this year will finally put to bed many of the false views by certain blacks who constantly talk about America as a racist society. Perhaps certain black leaders have been crying-wolf as it pertains to white people and their views toward blacks. Maybe, just maybe, it is the other way around.
For example, we see at present and have seen in the past many proofs that white people (in large numbers) support many blacks in the entertainment industry. How did Bill Cosby have the number one show on television for many years when he had an almost all-black cast and show? Answer, millions of white people tuned in to watch his very funny show and to purchase products that advertisers sold during the commercial breaks.
The NBA is populated by black athletes (approximately 85%) who dominate the sport and this makes for great theater. Yet, the stands are mainly filled with white people who come to watch and enjoy the athletes play ball. If you think that is not true...look at the color of the faces in the crowd when the cameras pan the audience.
How did Oprah become a billionaire from her daytime show. Answer: her audience, both live and on television is filled with white women who support what she does. Again, just look at the color of the faces in the crowd. All of these statements are not to diminish the black viewers who also enjoy watching the three examples that I just used. I'm only saying that none of the examples of blacks I used would have been as successful if white people, in large numbers, did not join in and support their endeavor as well.
I suppose most people heard about the black lady on one of the sillier daytime talk shows (the view) say that she was voting for Obama because she wanted to vote for someone who "looked just like her." How is that not racist? Would it be racist of me if my only stated reason for voting for a politician was that his skin color was the same as mine? Of course it would. Besides, if I had to wait to vote for someone who looked just like me in order to vote for them, I would have never cast a ballot in my life, no politician is that good-looking.
Now though, for blacks it seems the "shoe is on the other foot," and what do we see? South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina next week (I guarantee you) will have black voters, in the range of 90% of all votes cast, vote for the black man, just because he's black! That is racism, pure and simple. It is if white people would do it, and it is when black people do it. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

4/27/2008 6:00 p.m.

(THIRTY-SIX) Sometimes what supposedly intelligent people purport to believe are some of the most incredible things. Case in point is macro evolution. Evolution in any form is too silly for me to seriously consider, however, since I first read about this story (a few days ago) I knew I wanted to poke some fun at these men's expense. I mean, just imagine, the mosquito and the elephant, according to them, came from the same evolutionary process: preposterous! However, once a person starts exchanging truth and accepting fables as truth; the sky is the limit.
For example: (since we are talking about silly things) Mother Goose just came into my office and sat on my knee: she tells the most hilarious stories. "Quit it Mama Goose, I'm laughing so hard my sides are aching."
Follow this next thought carefully, and then I will tell you about a couple of silly stories. When any person makes a statement that is impossible to prove or disprove, then they can say anything at all, and certain groups of followers will eventually agree with the made-up stories and they will adopt them as their beliefs.
A newspaper in New York called The Sun published a six-part story in 1835. In this fictional story they talked about human-like creatures with wings and they flew about like bats. The series gave great detail about these creatures lives. Now remember, it was a fictional account but it fell into the impossible to prove or disprove category, so, of course, it developed a core group of believers. But I want you to see who this core group was comprised. A reporter wrote of that time and I will now quote him. "Yale College was alive with staunch supporters... It was the absorbing topic of the day." (Unquote) YALE, ACADEMIA...?
And of course most people know of the comic book writer (Hubbard) who began a "religion" (Scientology) that is strictly adhered to by many of Hollywood's elite. "I think that man is a "thetan." (LOL) Again, Hubbard's fabricated story fell into the impossible to prove or disprove category, so, naturally you have some who will believe it.
Now I want to tell you about the latest silly story that falls into the impossible to prove or disprove category, so, naturally this story will find some who will believe it. In case you have not heard, certain "scientists" believe the modern chicken evolved from the T-Rex. In Mei Sermo I devote a large portion of chapter two, nearly 100 pages in length, as I debunk the lunacy of evolution. If you doubt that statement, either download my book for free, or purchase it and read it for yourself. Because of that I am not going to try and write in ten paragraphs or less what I took 40,000 words to explain. I just wanted to show a couple of truths about what "learned men" have chosen to accept. Another way to say it would be how easily some people are fooled.
Now I want to offer a story of my own that will fall into the impossible to prove or disprove category. I can hardly wait until I get my own group of pedantic sycophants who adopt my story as their own. Here it is: I now firmly believe that Casper the Ghost and the Sand-man are in the same evolutionary line. Think about it. They both have the ability to fly, they usually are seen at night, and both of them sort of creep me out. I mean, what kind of sick, twisted, creature sprinkles sand in your eyes!
The more I think about that the angrier I am becoming. Tonight I am going to force myself to stay awake until that crazy little (SM) Sand-man flies in front of my face, and boy do I have a surprise for him: blam! Tonight... I go to bed with my gun. However, I digress, before I waste him I do want all potential followers to know that I do honestly believe that SM and Casper are definitely in the same evolutionary family of creatures. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

4/28/2008 7:50 a.m.

(THIRTY-SEVEN) Will people finally just believe Obama's crazy, racist, pastor and take him at his word. For more than a year commentators such as Hannity and a few others have been carefully parsing his words in order to better understand him.
For the last several months we have had black apologists on television saying that his words were taken "out of context" and he didn't mean what he said. Now of course, we know better. In a speech as current as yesterday Mr. Wright clarified his earlier statements and left no doubt as to what he meant in earlier sermons. Let's see if the liberal press will accurately report his latest remarks without trying to "spin them" and further apologize for him.
Yesterday he was told that many considered his remarks to be "divisive." He said that was incorrect: rather he (Wright) was only being descriptive!
I have to admit that I sort of admire the crazy old guy for not backing down in the face of all the criticism. If there was ever an "in your face statement" this has to be it. I mean, asking the Lord to damn America, not divisive, just descriptive! Saying that America invented the AIDS virus and introduced it into the black community, not divisive, just descriptive! Stating that America is the US of KKK, not divisive, just descriptive!
Now of course CNN, NBC, ABC, The Soviet newspaper, MSNBC, China's Daily, CBS, and all other news agencies with the same world-view will try to hurry past this particular remark. Mark my words, this blog, and the date and time I wrote it and you will see a singular truth. Only FOX and its affiliates will report that his statement is in no way backing down from any controversial and racist remarks Wright had earlier made. In fact, Wright is affirming them! Remember, he is not divisive, just descriptive! Note to Obama: "When you lose your bid for the White House, be sure and know where to place the blame. It will be at the doorstep of Wright's mansion in his all-white community."
Note to myself: "When Obama loses his bid for the White House, be sure and know who to congratulate. My thank you card will be mailed to the mansion of Mr. Wright in his all-white neighborhood." (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

4/29/2008 12:03 a.m.

(THIRTY-EIGHT) I hate to keep writing about these two people (Wright/Obama) and I plan to stop soon. I am growing as sick of them as I think many of you are. In fact, I had already planned to write about a different topic entirely: a soldier from Iraq who is suing Gates because he believes, as an "atheist" that he has been somehow "targeted."
I had even pulled out a paper I wrote titled: Open Letter to Humanists/Agnostics/Atheists. I was going to use some of the contents from that letter in this blog. I also was going to use a few facts from a paper I wrote and keep on my desk, titled: Proofs for a Young Earth and Universe. The latter I used to have a lot of fun with as I spent some of my free time going to agnostic websites and engaging some of those people in conversation. Perhaps, though, that topic can be for another time. Today, however, I thought of a couple of important questions that I am not sure anyone has asked Obama yet. I will get to the questions soon, but first I will use a question preacher Wright kept asking Sean Hannity to answer in order to get to the Obama questions.
As Wright was being interviewed he kept wanting to know what books Hannity had read on "black liberation theology." One name in particular jumped out, James Cone. Certainly Wright could not be meaning the Marxist, James Cone? Certainly not the leftist and avowed follower of Karl Marx, James Cone? But of course I only write it this way in order to be facetious. James Cone, the lover of Marxism is exactly who Wright was extolling!
Cone said, "...the Christian faith does not possess in its nature the means for analyzing the structure of capitalism..." West, another Marxist that is a hero to Wright states that America is over run by, "White racism within mainstream establishment churches and religious agencies."
But, some might say that is Wright, Cone, and West... what about Obama? Glad you asked.
Obama's campaign website lists as a priority, "Obama will protect tax cuts for poor and middle class families..." On the surface that sounds okay, until you hear that the rest of the "wealthiest" taxpayers will have their burdens increased. Remember... redistribution of wealth is Marxist philosophy! When Wright speaks of embracing Marxism he uses code words and phrases, such as "economic parity."
Economic parity is not, I say again, is not a Bible principle taught by Christ. Jesus, as God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and as God-in-the-flesh could have alleviated all sickness and poverty: yet, He said, Matthew 26:11a: "For ye have the poor always with you:" The Lord did not alleviate the burden of the poor in the days He walked the Earth as a Man, nor did He imply, or state, that poverty would be remedied in the future. (Poor always with you)
We are also taught in the Bible that if a person does not work, they should not even eat, let alone be coddled by a welfare-state. (Or have a person who has earned great wealth, be forced by income redistribution (Marxism) to enable the lazy). II Thessalonians 3:10: "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
Now I want to get to my questions for Obama. "Sir, you have said that you do not agree with all of Mr. Wrights "offensive" statements, yet you never intimated what those statements were. Could you tell us which statements he made that you disagree with? Secondly, You sat in a church for more than 20 years that teaches "black liberation theology," which, at its core, is Marxist. Do you believe America ought to be a "Capitalist" or a "Marxist" society?"
The reason I would get him to answer it in two parts is to see if he distances himself from any of Wright's "economic parity" (Marxism) remarks within the framework of the first question. If Obama would not mention anything about that part of Wright's preaching as offensive, then the second question would be moot. We would know that Obama would believe Marxism, as a way of life, ought to be embraced by Americans.
Two more thoughts and I am done. Maybe with all of Wright's speaking this week, to coin a recent phrase that he used, "Wright's chickens...(before finishing the phrase imagine, as a man, you are wearing a dress as you slowly turn in a circle and flap your arms in the air as the phrase is finished)... are coming home to roost."
I also wanted to talk about a reason that Wright (with more of his recent insane talking) might, on purpose, be sabotaging Obama's chance for the presidency. I think I know a very good reason for it... Wright does not want Obama to win the White House! Those last nine words are probably the only thing that Mr. Wright and I would ever be in agreement on. However, for totally different reasons.
I would have loved to have been a fly-on-the-wall during the first meeting of Wright and Obama and see who courted who. It might be a hard lesson for Barak to learn that Wright was far more devious than anyone has ever given him credit for. Perhaps Barak thought the black church was grooming him for a serious run at the highest office in the land and the pastor was setting him up to fail. Let me ask you a question. If Obama wins... or loses... the White House... which of those two possibilities is the best fit for Wright and his "whitey's keepin' me down message?"
If Obama ( a black man) could attain the highest office in a predominantly white nation, then all of the preaching Wright has done throughout his career would be in vain. But, if a "qualified black man" gets knocked down, by the predominantly white nation, then it fits perfectly with Wright's twisted theology. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

4/30/2008 3:45 p.m.

(THIRTY-NINE) On a lighter note, I saw an interesting story the other day where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is apparently afraid of a nine-inch tall American Barbie doll. At first I wasn't sure why, then I figured it out... all by myself! Ahmadinejad, himself, only stands about two feet tall, so a plastic doll nearly half his size is probably fairly imposing. I began to think of ways that we could use this against him and his country and at the same time it would help our economy.
Why can't our country order a few hundred thousand of these dolls from Mattel and have them air-dropped over the middle of Tehran? Can't you just imagine a two foot tall Ahmadinejad running for his life and screaming (like a little girl) as Barbie dolls begin to fall like rain over Tehran.
But wait, I have an even better idea. If a nine-inch tall female doll can strike terror in his heart, what about a male doll that is exactly one-half his height? If I were President Bush I would ask Hasbro to reintroduce the original 12-inch tall action-figure G. I. Joe doll. In addition to Ahmadinejad being afraid, what would happen to Iran's (vaunted) Revolutionary Guard if a bunch of action-figure G.I. Joe dolls began raining down on their heads?
I know what you are thinking. Some of you have read the same news reports that I have and you think there is another reason Ahmadinejad is afraid of "Barbie." That's okay, you can believe "that other reason" if you want to. As for me, I am still going to smile as I imagine a nine-inch tall plastic Barbie doll chasing around a two foot tall Iranian dictator. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/1/2008 7:30 p.m.

(FORTY) Happy holiday... well, sort of. May first (May Day) will be celebrated in many parts of the world as a major holiday. America, and rightly so, will celebrate this "worker's day" in September. We call it "Labor Day" and we do not want to celebrate an important day such as this with several other countries whose allegiance is for Communism. So, in keeping with our country's tradition I will not offer up any more types of holiday greeting, but I will tell you a valid reason to celebrate. News from around the globe does show that America and its allies are winning "the war on terror."
The good news comes in fits and starts, but it does come. The latest leader of al-Qaida to learn that America does indeed have a long reach, and an even longer memory was a criminal named Aden Hashi Ayro. From a wire report I will use a sentence verbatim: "The U.S. missiles left a smoldering hole where Ayro's house had stood in Dusamareeb." I like that quote.
Of course everyone remembers many years ago ago when a group of heathens from Somalia dragged the dead and naked bodies of brave American soldiers through the streets of Somalia. Of course, at that time, we had a cowardly president (Clinton) who would not support or back up our troops in that region and their sacrifice was not honored. More recently it has been.
To show you just what heathen men it is who American troops and missiles are killing, I will give you just one example. I will not do this by listing some of the innocent people who died at the hands of the coward Ayro. I mean, anyone with any sense knows that it is a cowardly act to attack innocent women and children and that is exactly who terrorists prey on with their suicide attacks. I want to tell you about something else Ayro was responsible for.
Three years ago he desecrated a graveyard and threw hundreds of bodies into the sea. Then he built a mosque on the site and used it to train more murdering cowards. So, with his death earlier today, chalk another one up for the good guys. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/2/2008 8:45 a.m.

(FORTY-ONE) I just wanted to write a brief blog this morning and make two points. First: most people are like sheep. This is, of course, a stated Bible truth and one we can see being played out all around us on a daily basis. I will use a common headline found in certain newspapers to help illustrate my points.
"Bush Disapproval Rating Makes History." Sheep, as it relates to humans denote people who will follow a leader and do whatever their leader asks of them. That can be good, or it can be bad. If you are unquestioningly following Christ, as one of His "sheep," that is good. However, if you are unquestioningly following liberal news agencies as part of their fold, that is bad.
President Bush had the highest approval rating of any serving president (above 90%) since such records have been kept. He was better liked than even "the Gipper." Now, ask yourself why it was that he had such an unbelievably high mark of approval. It was because after 9/11 he was seen as the person who could keep this country safe. Now I ask you this question. What has changed? The answer, nothing. He has done exactly that. No attacks on our soil since what the heathens did on 9/11. Contrast that superb record with the heathens attacking inside our country and our embassies in seven major attacks during Clinton's eight years in office. (For an in-depth look at these numbers read chapter three of Mei Sermo).
Keep in mind that President Bush and his 90% approval had nothing to do with a good economy. He had inherited a weakening economy from Clinton, and Bush was only eight months into office when 9/11 happened. His 90% approval was based only on the belief that he would keep America safe, and he has done that! Now comes the sheep part for many people in America. Liberal news agencies shape the minds of "sheep" who only follow whatever the liberal papers report.
Example: After months of these people saying we are in a recession, guess what... they lied: GDP just out proves we are not! Also just out, unemployment rate at 5% average (during President Bush era) is lower than any time during the Clinton years. So, I have a message for all of the sheep out there, quit reading and believing everything the liberal rags report.
My only other point is this. If you are going to report that a president just reached a milestone in disapproval numbers: (69%) wouldn't it only be fair to also report that this is the same man who had the highest approval numbers also: (90%). Yet, you will not find that in any of the liberal news stories. Let me prove to you that is liberal bias at work.
Try and find any story where the same person has the highest mark and the lowest mark in their respective jobs and let's see how it is reported. Example: read about a single athlete who has the highest mark and a lowest mark in his sport and it will always be reported like this: "... just set the record for most strikeouts, but to be fair ... also has the record for most at-bats."
I mean when Clinton had to finally admit, after lying for months about sexual relations with Lewinsky... the story always went something like this: "It has now been proven that Clinton has had more affairs while in the White House than any president in nearly four decades... but Clinton's mark falls far short of the record held by JFK during his White House tenure." (LOL) (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/3/2008 7:15 a.m.

(FORTY-TWO) I suppose everyone has heard the adage, "You get what you pay for." I know that as a salesman, and whenever I am trying to get someone to upgrade to a more expensive product I use it a lot. Truthfully, it is probably overused and sometimes it is not even true. But, in the case I want to talk about, "You get what you pay for."
Rather than talk about only a single case that is in the news, I would like to broaden the blog to include a whole host of service industry people, and especially those whose work can mean life or death to someone who is in need of their services: i.e., firemen, policeman, and all other groups like those.
Recently a young girl (Brittany Z.) made an emergency call to 911 and the operator in Madison, Wisconsin failed to follow proper procedure and the 911 operator's lack of professionalism might have led to either the death of the young caller, or at the very least the police might have arrived in time to capture her killer. However, because the operator did not alert the police, the girl died and her killer, as of this writing, is still free: perhaps to kill again.
As I was reading about this tragic story, I wondered about the dedication, intelligence, concern, professionalism, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, of that 911 operator. Then my next thought was that 911 operators are probably low paying jobs and of course what followed that thought was, "You get what you pay for." I was correct that 911 workers have low paying jobs. It seems that average pay is only between $13.00 to $15.00 dollars an hour. That is certainly very little money being paid to people who others depend on in order to save lives.
But, the getting what you pay for is probably not a fair adage to be used for (I hope) the majority of 911 operators. I hope the 911 operator who did not follow procedure with the young girl (who called for help) gets fired. However, in my experience I have seen many times where incompetent people are allowed to remain on their jobs. In this particular case though I sincerely pray that operator is fired, if for no other reason than to set an example for other operators to be sure and follow set guidelines.
From that tragic story I would like to briefly write about something more positive and wish everyone a happy "Derby Day." I will give you my picks and then you can either wonder why I am not handicapping for the Downs or you will realize why I have never (in my life) placed a bet at Churchill Downs: even though at one time we only lived a short five-minute walk from their main gate. And, as I sit at my desk and type this morning I am only a short ten-minute car ride from the Downs.
Because I like long shots, and for my trifecta, I am picking Smooth Air to win: Eight Belles to place, and Big Brown to show. At work, and in our betting pool, I have Monba to win it all. 12 hours before the race I feel confident in my picks. Three seconds after the race I will probably be happy that I have an unbroken record for never having lost any money at the Downs, and the reason for that is I have never placed a wager!
In fact, I am so bad at picking winners for these horse races that I can honestly say that my wife, three daughters, sons-in-laws, brother, sister-in-law and everyone else I know has been better than me at picking winners for the Derby. But, I have repeatedly told them it is hard to be both handsome and smart, so I just pick handsome. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/4/2008 12:01 a.m.

(FORTY-THREE) This will be one of the easier (and perhaps longer) blogs to write because I do not have to research any news stories for details and I do not need a fact checker. It is because I will simply be talking from my heart. Before I tell you about something I did today, which was for the very last time in my life, I want to write about Don Quixote.
I once read a description about this fictional hero and the writer said that he was an "aging buffoon." Another time it was stated that he was "an impractical idealist." The longer I live the more I see that Quixote and I have a lot in common and many times in my own life I have "tilted at windmills," and of course they are of my own imaginings and making. Sometimes these "giants" of mine and my wanting to pick a fight with them has been to my own detriment. Nevertheless, I plow on and have no intention of quitting even though my own quest is an impossible one. It is especially pointless on my own behalf because the windmills I am calling out do not even know I am fighting them. And, truth be told, if I let them in on what I was doing, it would still matter less than nothing. Let me explain.
For many years I have not shopped at Target stores because of their apparent anti-Christian bias as it relates to the Christmas holiday. I made a determination to not spend any money where the management was more interested in not offending a liberal and vociferous minority than it was in catering to what the vast majority of shoppers wanted. For that same reason I quit buying anything at Old Navy and Dick's Sporting Goods. These stores will make more than half their profit for the calendar year during the Christmas season, but they forbid their workers to say Merry Christmas or even acknowledge what holiday is approaching. The "geniuses" in management at these places will actually have countdown days. Example: Only 25 days left. Ask them, "25 days left... till what?"
Their answer: "You know... that holiday." I would never spend a dime of my money or a second of my time supporting a business where the word "Christmas" frightens someone so badly that they are afraid to utter it. Businesses like those are (for me) windmill number one.
Windmill number two (Actually there is no specific order for what I am writing. In fact, I had quit shopping Kroger's before I quit Old Navy.) is Kroger's grocery store. For a period of almost three years I refused to shop there because I read where they had removed a newsletter, of a local church, from their rack where free publications are offered. I did not even particularly agree with some of the teachings of the church they had banned. That wasn't the point though, I quit shopping there because they allowed a liberal and profane rag like "Leo" to be given away, but not something from a Christian church. When that policy changed, I shopped there again.
Windmill number three is the Louisville zoo, actually any zoo. I love animals and I have as long as I can remember. That fact is the reason that I used to like going to zoos: it was there that I could see animals up close. But on two of my last visits to the zoo something happened each time that confirmed my decision to never return.
I stood fascinated as I watched a large and graceful cat walk to the end of his run, perfectly flip his head and body in a half-turn which allowed him to repeat his walk to the other end of his run. At that point he would do a repeat move he had done at the other end and once again walk the very same route again... and again... and again... and again... and again... and again... and again... Did you get tired reading those same words over and over? Imagine the poor cat, repeating that same walk over and over and over and over and over and over and over... He had been doing this when I walked up to his cage. He continued for several minutes as I stood watching him. He was still doing this same mind-numbing walk as I watched him over my shoulder until he was out of my sight.
The last time I went to the gorilla house an old male sat with his back against the heavy steel bars. Because gorillas (and monkeys in general) like to throw "certain things" through their bars, they always put glass between the paying customers and the animals. I won't tell you what they like to throw, but I will tell you what it rhymes with. It rhymes with "fit." I know what you are thinking, "mitt" but that's not it either.
Because this big male had his back against the bars he was practically touching the glass, which means there was only a few inches of space that separated us. I bent down in order to see him better. Quicker than you might think possible he swung with his left hand (in a backward manner) and struck the heavy plexiglass. Everyone, including myself laughed. It was because he didn't even appear that he was paying attention, but he was. Then he did something, at least to me seemed incredibly sad. He half-turned so he could see everyone who had been intently watching him, and then in two very powerful moves he was at the top of his cage and he went through a hole and was out of sight.
I know they say we are not supposed to assign animal actions and expressions and try to compare those to how humans behave. However, in my life I have seen many times that many of the they(s) in this world are stupid and clearly wrong. I admit, I do not know for certain the reason the gorilla backhanded the glass, gave a dismissive look of disdain to the assembled humans, and then fled out of sight. But, to me it seemed rather apparent. He was tired of being stared at and caged in order for people to come and watch him live in his big box.
Windmill number four and the reason for today's blog is Churchill Downs. Actually, any horse, or dog race for that matter. Actually as far as picking finishers for today's race I was moderately successful. I picked two of the top three. However, the horse I picked to win was so far back I think (six hours later) he is still on the track: but, bless his heart he is almost to the last turn. He is kind of like how I was two years ago at my first and only. (I promise) mini-marathon. Three days after I started my family thought they would have to call search-and-rescue. But, never fear, only six days after starting I finally stumbled home.
In the car before today's race I already had misgivings about it. My wife and I were discussing horse racing as a sport and I told her that (ex) race horses (by the multiplied thousands every year) either end up as pet food for other domesticated animals or the horse is slaughtered and the meat is sent to many different overseas markets for human consumption.
I once sold a Rainbow vacuum to a business man in Bloomfield, Kentucky who said he averaged 1,100 horses a week that he purchased and sold as meat for human consumption for the Japanese market. He was the first person to tell me that horses which run race tracks all over the country are bought and slaughtered for their meat once they are injured, or their career is over.
Now I knew all of this before today. But, today was it for me. I picked the girl to finish second, she did, but I didn't pick her to break two legs and have to be killed on the track.
So, as long as I live I will continue to tilt at windmills of my own making. Will Churchill downs suffer because I won't ever watch another race? I don't see how because I have never spent a dime in my whole life there. Will Dick's, Target, or Old Navy actually miss the few hundred dollars a year they might have gotten from me? I don't see how.
Even Kroger's, where I probably averaged spending $100.00 weekly did not miss my small pittance during my three year hiatus: not with a company that exceeds 70 billion dollars in annual sales. But, I keep on tilting. If for no other reason than it just seems right to me.
I not only accept the idea of myself being an aging buffoon, or an impractical idealist... I embrace those definitions.
The companies I have listed, and I'm sure there will be more in the future, do not know I exist. And, it would make no difference to them even if they knew all about me. But, in the end, I do what I do because it makes me feel better! (Robin L. Johnson)
PS The fact that my wife and I got to spend a large portion of the day with two of our daughters, their husbands, and five of our grandchildren helped to get the terrible image of the dying filly out of my mind. I only lament the fact that our middle daughter, her husband, and our other two grandchildren didn't get to join us for pizza, fun, (making of four "worm farms") and game playing. They had to finish working on a fence. "C'mon, what fun is that?"
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/5/2008 7:10 p.m.

(FORTY-FOUR) Welcome to the brave new world. The blogs I write each day are whatever thoughts I have about a local or national event, and anything else that captures my interest. This story I am writing about today would be considered a second tier news event and it will probably not get a lot of play. However, it is still interesting.
Dateline--Chicago (May 5) A group of what the writer calls "influential doctors" from "prestigious universities, medical groups, the military and government agencies" were part of a very specific oriented task team. Their task... predetermine who lives and who will simply be left to die if a "flu pandemic or other disaster" were to strike America.
People from Homeland Security, (in case of large scale terrorist attack) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (possible viral attack) and the Department of Health and Human services: (most probably there in case of a chemical terrorist attack) were all part of this task team.
Now, it is important to remember that if something were to strike our country and it would impact people in the millions, it would be impossible to treat them all: this I fully understand and appreciate. But, I just want to give you a couple of their quotes and see if it isn't something that could have been taken from the pages of Orwell's 1984. And see if they have it 180 degrees wrong.
"If a mass casualty critical care event were to occur tomorrow, many people with clinical conditions that are survivable under usual health care system conditions may have to forgo life-sustaining interventions owing to deficiencies in supply or staffing."
I will give you a sampling of those, who, if a tragedy on a large scale were to strike the U.S. tomorrow, "need not apply." Their message to you, stay home and die!
The guidelines that were set forth by this group is said to be a "blueprint for hospitals." Dr. Asha Devereaux (good old American name) said this was, "so that everybody will be thinking in the same way."
According to this task team, if you have any of these types of people in your family, leave them home to die: if a large-scale disaster strikes: Anyone over 85. Anyone with severe mental impairment, young or old. Any person with chronic disease: diabetes, heart failure, lung disease, etcetera. This is, of course, only a partial list. Example: also, all persons who were being treated from car crashes, or shootings, etcetera at the time of the large scale attack, and all who are listed as critical... their care would cease.
Now, I am fully on board with the idea of women and children first. If I had been on the Titanic I would have tried to make sure that the most vulnerable were safe before any able bodied person left the sinking vessel. I would imagine that by a large majority of Americans that is a principle that would be adhered. However, in our modern and exceedingly sinful "throw away" society: especially since 1973 and Roe v Wade, we have it backwards; Kill the most vulnerable and the weakest among us: babies, elderly, sick, etcetera.
Mark my words. If, such a large scale attack were to occur tomorrow in our country, and if I had a loved one who would fall into the weakest and most vulnerable in our society... and God forbid, if they were injured... they would be treated! Even if their treatment comes after I have threatened the attending physician with the thick barrel end of my favorite baseball bat. Can anyone say, "home run!" (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com

5/6/2008 6:20 p.m.

(FORTY-FIVE) Today's blog will be a little different because I want you to try an experiment to test your own feelings (be honest about what you feel) before returning to this blog to learn an important teaching about mercy, and prayerfully, how to right a terrible wrong. Here is the test. Online look up Nargis and read a little about the 22,000 plus deaths, by drowning, which are known so far, and ask yourself how you honestly feel about all of those people tragically drowning. On a scale of 1-10, with one being not very sad and ten wanting to cry uncontrollably, how would you rate 22,000 known drowned?
Now, type in "child swept away by flood waters" and read a few accounts about the deaths of one or two people who were known to have drowned. On a scale of 1-10, with one being not very sad and ten wanting to cry uncontrollably, how would you rate one known drowned? One more thing, no ties allowed!
I will tell a joke to amuse myself while everyone is away trying my little experiment. A guy walks into a bar and he is carrying a dog that has no legs. He sets the legless animal on the bar and orders a drink. The bartender says, "Oh, poor little dog, what happened?" The owner replied, "Nothing happened, he was born that way." The bartender says, "Oh, poor little thing, what's his name?" The owner says, "He doesn't have a name." The bartender pauses for a minute, and then says, "Oh, poor little pooch, no legs, no name, why didn't you at least give him a name?" The owner said, "Because I knew he wouldn't come if I called him."
What did you find out about yourselves? Be honest, 22,000 known drowned, or one known drowned, which came closest to ten in your mind?
If I told you that 5,000 horses per week (in America alone) were killed and their meat was sold and it is used for pet food and (or) human consumption, or I told you that a single horse was killed after a race this past Saturday: on the same scale, which is a sadder story; 700 horses being killed every day, or one horse being killed Saturday? Again, please be honest.
If you are like me, and the vast majority of people are (at least as it relates to my little test) it is always more sad to imagine death in small doses than it is on a more grand scale.
Now to the terrible wrong I would like to see "righted." (AT THIS POINT I HAD TO STOP TYPING FOR A FEW MINUTES, I WILL TELL YOU WHY AND THEN I WILL RETURN TO THIS BLOG). One of my grandchildren (Hallie) came in by my chair and took my hand and said, "Papa, come outside, I want you to marry me." Because I have been a part of this particular ceremony in the past, I knew what she wanted.
I waited on the porch as she situated her "singing Elmo" on the table. (I guess you can't be married without music). Elmo began to vibrate and to sing, "A-B-C... 1-2-3... baby you and me..." We are now holding hands and turning in a circle as we say, "Marry me... marry me... marry me..." Virgil has begun to circle with us as Elmo changes his song and begins to belt out "Shake-rattle-and roll." We are still turning and Virgil is now on his back feet with his front paws on my side: as now three of us are making our turns; and still chanting, marry me... marry me... In other words, for a few minutes we were quite a spectacle on our front porch. Now, back to the blog.
I think the people in America who hate the murdering of our (innocent) unborn babies in this country are making a huge mistake as they try to wake America up to this horrible tragedy. Instead of only talking about millions and millions of babies every year being killed, they need to start taking individual deaths and talk in great detail about how that particular (innocent) child died. How far along, in the pregnancy, was the mother, before her baby was killed? Was this child a boy or a girl? Etcetera, etcetera, keep talking about individual babies being killed.
Everyone who hates abortion on demand ought to take a lesson from the death of the filly at Churchill, and realize that "death in small doses" is always more tragic. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/7/2008

(FORTY-SIX) Finally, 20 years after an animal named William Lynd killed (at least) two people, this killer was himself killed. Imagine, 20 years of getting to watch television, write letters, read books, exercise, eat three meals a day, and many other things that state and federal prisons offer, this admitted killer was humanely executed.
If you wonder why murderers have no fear of capital punishment you need look no further than the above case. 20 years after he killed two people, he was finally and rightfully punished for his crimes. First, after an argument he shot his girlfriend two times in the face and head. He threw her body in the trunk and drove to find a place to hide her body. While driving he heard her "thumping around" so he pulled over and delivered the "kill shot," again to her head.
After fleeing to Ohio he also shot and killed another woman who had stopped by the road to assist him. Why did this animal get to live 20 long years after his crimes and be fed, clothed, and housed by Georgia taxpayers?
If you want to know how to solve a problem, any problem, go to the Bible! In just a single verse I will show how American prisons can cease to be overcrowded, violent crimes will be drastically cut, would-be criminals will become afraid of the death penalty, and a whole host of other problems resulting from violent offenders will be stopped.
Ecclesiastes 8:11: "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." The Bible is always right. Read again what it is saying. When people are not immediately punished for what they have done, (sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily) the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil!
Today, this very day, if every person on death-row were executed for their crimes, criminals would begin to fear capital punishment. No more appeals, letters, meals, etcetera, today 5/7/2008 those on death-row pay for their crimes.
But, it has to go farther than that. You can not only have those who are already awaiting their punishment, killed: you must be willing to have this same thing happen to future killers. Let me give an illustration. A man robs a bank and shoots and kills an unarmed teller. Just outside the door of the bank he is captured by police, they have him on surveillance tape, and DNA evidence found at the bank and ballistic tests on his gun confirm, without a doubt, he is the killer. During interrogation he admits what he has done and even brags that this was not his first bank robbery, nor was the teller his first victim. I have a question for you. After he goes to trial and is found guilty of murder and is ordered to be executed; why is he still allowed 12 years worth of appeals? If he were executed the very day he entered prison, that would be the beginning of future killers becoming very afraid of capital punishment.
I am not saying that when any reasonable doubt exists about a person's guilt that they should be executed. I am saying when there is no doubt whatsoever about their guilt, kill the killers... immediately! (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/8/2008 8:45 a.m.

(FORTY-SEVEN) Today I want to report two differences between conservatives and liberals. I am going to do this by taking the news story (verbatim) from AOL. It is only a paragraph: then I will make some comments.
"A new study finds that conservatives have greater life satisfaction and sense of well-being than liberals. Researchers say that's because right-wingers are better at justifying, or explaining away, social and economic inequalities, while left-wingers are more likely to see themselves and others as victims."
The findings of that study are 100% correct and the single paragraph, though succinct, has a good grasp in its assessment of the differences between the two "value beliefs" which are conservative and liberal.
As a conservative, it is easy for me to justify and explain (away) social and economic inequalities. I do it for the very reason that liberals cannot. I do not always see myself or others as "victims" only because there are social and economic inequalities. There are myriad reasons why, monetarily speaking, some people are poor and others are rich. Sometimes, it is nothing more than the poor person is more slovenly, listless, and has less motivation than another who is not slovenly, listless, and is very motivated.
And it is possible that someone might work hard, be motivated, etcetera, and still not become wealthy. So what? This does not qualify such a person for "victim" status. Nor does it qualify a person who is born with dark skin to automatically be entitled to "victim" status. I know that must come as a revelation to all of the white liberals out there. Supposed "white guilt" is (according to many polls) why many white liberals are voting for Obama. Not me, as a white person I have no guilt as it relates to blacks. Neither I, nor my immediate family were ever slave owners, and by the way, neither you nor anyone you know ever owned any slaves.
I think that it's such a ridiculous thought or practice to "want to be sorry" for something that happened before you or your parents were ever born. That is the ultimate definition of what it means for liberals and their "victimhood" philosophy of life.
In reality there are true "victims" in this life. But, as usual, libs have it all wrong. Unborn babies being murdered are true victims. However, liberals would rather make victims out of many of the girls with their "Hollywood whore mentality" as they try to see how many beds they can hop in and out of.
In reality there are true "victims" in this life. But, as usual, libs have it all wrong. Innocent people who are robbed and murdered are true victims. However, liberals try to make victims out of many of these murdering animals because they had a "tragic childhood."
Thank God I am a happy conservative, and not some moping lib always looking for the next "victim" in order to compare tragic stories with. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/9/2008 7:55 a.m.

(FORTY-EIGHT) It is being widely reported that Obama will "declare victory" on May 20, 11 days from now. I will tell you why I believe that date might be important to him, and it has nothing to do with the primary in Oregon. First though, I will tell you why I am reluctantly casting my vote for John McCain.
Of course I would die (literally) before I would ever vote for any person who is in the Democrat party, as long as their party's platform is to keep it "legal" to continue killing millions of innocent unborn babies. I will, from the Bible, explain why those of you who are "saved" and vote for a Democrat will one day stand before Christ with blood on your own hands as a baby killer. I write about this in great detail in Mei Sermo, however, for this blog (because it is much shorter) I am going to have to ask you to look in the Bible to read the story for yourselves.
(Remember, I am only writing this portion of the blog to those people who say they are born again and who purport to love God and believe His book. To the rest of you, who do not believe that one day you are going to have to give an account of your actions before God: "Go ahead, you can continue being responsible for helping to kill innocent babies all day long." In fact, for lost people who are reading this you can skip this next part because it wouldn't do you any good to know it anyway.)
To those who are saved I want you to read of David and Bathsheba and God's punishment to this couple because of their adulterous and sinful relationship. And I especially want to call attention to how David disposed of Bathsheba's husband. As you read the story, notice that David (himself) did not physically even touch Uriah (Bathsheba's husband) in order to kill him. All that David did was to put Uriah in a position where he knew that he would be killed. After Uriah was killed with a sword thrust into his body by an enemy of God's people, the Lord sent a prophet of His to confront David.
In confronting David about his sins before God, Nathan (speaking for God) told David, "Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword..." "Thou hast killed... with the sword...!" Do you suppose David tried to argue that it "really wasn't him that killed Uriah with the sword," I mean, technically it was an enemy soldier... technically, all David did was to send Uriah there, knowing for a fact that he would be killed!!!
Do you believe the Lord will accept your argument that technically it really wasn't you who killed unborn babies with sharp scalpels. I mean, technically it was murdering doctors with sharp scissors who killed the unborn babies. However, the Lord will hold you just as accountable for killing babies as He did David for killing Uriah. It is because you are voting people into office knowing that they will do all that they can to see that babies are daily killed (abortion on demand) in clinics throughout America! You do not have to hold the scalpel in your own hand in order to be responsible for killing a helpless baby, just vote into office people who you know beforehand will do that for you.
I will reluctantly vote for McCain because I disagree with him on many fundamental points, however, he is not a baby killer and he has stated that he will not harvest stem cells for research. Therefore, I can in good conscience vote for him.
In finishing today's blog I would like to ask you to do something. Go online and search certain dates and see why they are important to terrorists. I am not going to tell you why McVeigh exploded his bomb on a certain day, but it was a day that (for him) held special significance. (look it up) Do you think September 11, was just drawn from thin air? Look it up and see why the terrorists wanted to bomb on that specific day. Do the same for the bombs in London, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, and you will see that specific dates are very important to the enemies of this nation and they act out, and in Obama's case make important announcements on specific dates. Now, to be fair, Obama might not be a terrorist sympathizer, but he is known to be friendly with such people. He also has a long history of associating himself with people who are strongly anti-American.
Now to the date I began this blog with. Who is credited for discovering America? Do you believe May 20 was picked from thin air by Obama to make his special announcement? Honestly, I do not know. But, knowing Obama's history of being friendly to American haters, I think he should pick some day other than the day the "discoverer of America" died. Christopher Columbus died May 20, 1506. 502 years later we have the most liberal senator in America, based on his voting record, declaring "victory." God help this nation. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/10/2008 7:10 p.m.

(FORTY-NINE) Another thug (DMX) was arrested on animal cruelty charges. I guess it's true, "You can take the thug, punk, jerk, etcetera out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the aforementioned thug, punk, or jerk."
I have a question for you. Why does someone think it makes them "tough" just because they have a dog that can fight? If any guy wants to really see if they are "tough" here is what they could do. Instead of putting their dog in the box against another dog, they and the other dog's owner should climb into the box instead, now both of them could have a fight to the finish. Now I would pay good money to see that and then we would know which one of these people were "tough." At this point my guess is neither one of these people would be. However, I also have another possible scenario.
If they really want to see if they are "tough," climb into the box against the other guys fighting dog. Again, I would pay good money to see that, and, as before, it would also answer the question of who the "tough" one actually was. My money is on the dog.
For me it is the same scenario as the cowardly boys who run in gangs, fight only in groups, and hide behind their loaded weapons. At the same time they want everyone to think of them as "tough" guys. Please, if they were actually "tough" and unafraid, they wouldn't join a gang in the first place. Think about it. These people join gangs because they are too cowardly to stand on their own two feet and fight for themselves!
Go ahead, "tough guys," get your little doggies to fight for you and run and get your friends and their loaded weapons whenever anyone "disses" you. As an older person speaking to many of the younger punks and thugs in today's society, I can tell you why you are "dissed." It is because we see through you and know that you were always the cowardly little boy on the playground who ran to get his daddy or older sibling to do his fighting for him.
Now, because you are older and they are no longer around to bail you out, you get a weapon and find other cowards just like yourself, and you band together so you don't have to be "afwaid of de big bad boogeyman anymore." (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/11/2008 9:20 a.m.

(FIFTY) Happy Mother's Day, first to my wife, my three daughters, and then to the rest of the approximately 83 million mothers in America. My family and I grew up near the "birthplace" of the Mother's Day holiday: Grafton, W.Va. This year is the 100th anniversary of the very first celebration in 1908, which was held in a small church in Grafton.
Anna Jarvis wanted the holiday to celebrate mothers in the nineteenth century tradition, i.e., moms who were known to "nurture children and make cozy, safe homes." In fact, in later years Anna was actually arrested one time for disturbing the peace. She didn't like the ruling a court had handed down because of a lawsuit she had brought as it related to Mother's Day celebrations; they were increasingly far off the mark she had envisioned.
This next quote is for all of the retailers out there and the billions you will earn because of this holiday. Anna had said, "I wanted a day of sentiment, not profit."
This next sentiment is for me as well as most people in America. As it relates to store-bought greeting cards, Anna called them, "...a poor excuse for the letter you are too lazy to write."
Anna Jarvis fought her whole life to keep the holiday she started to honor, first her own mom and then all other mothers a holiday without all of the commercial aspects. In that regard she failed.
Anna never married and of course, she never had children. At the time of her death she was both blind and penniless: at least, though, in death she might have finally found peace as she was buried beside her beloved mother. In memory of Anna and her thought of a pure Mother's Day celebration, I want to wish every mom the gift of a white carnation as this was thought by Anna to represent the "pure love of a mother." (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/12/2008 8:22 a.m.

(FIFTY-ONE) I just want to make a few brief observations about several recent and one past storm we have had in our country. I don't mean to sound callous when so many people are injured and several have lost people whom they dearly loved. But, I have to ask. Where are the basements for all of these homes that were leveled in Missouri and Arkansas? Or at the very least, couldn't someone have dug a storm-cellar? So far, in every single picture I have found online where a house is flattened, I can see no evidence of a basement. And every story of survival I have heard is some person talking about going to a bathroom and crawling into a tub for safety, or riding out the storm in a closet, etcetera.
I would understand not having a basement if you lived in Florida, where a basement couldn't be dug even if you wanted to, or if you lived in Seattle, where the threat of a tornado would not be a serious consideration. However, if you live in an area that has a history of tornadoes, there is no excuse for not having a safe area underground where you and your family could retreat during bouts of severe weather.
When we lived in West Virginia, tornadoes were never a concern. The area is so hilly that strong swirling winds are mostly unheard of. However, because we moved to Kentucky, and later to Indiana, tornadoes were a concern. It is no accident that since moving to those states, every single house we lived in with our children, we had basements, except one, and that was in a town which had never recorded a tornado. And that even included the great outbreak of 1974.
Now I understand that for many people it would not be possible to hire someone with a backhoe to dig for you, but a man, by himself, with a hand-held shovel shovel could very easily dig a suitable storm cellar in just three days. I know the amount of time it would take to dig an area by hand because I have done it. At one time I had wanted a swimming pool in my back yard. In three days, by myself, I had removed an area of dirt equal to 810 cubic feet. Although I was only three feet deep, before it started to rain for several days, I had dug the equivalent of an underground room 10' x 10' x 8' in size. So, digging a large hole can be done and even by a person who would not have the finances to have the job done by another.
For the sake of argument, let us say it would take you longer to dig a suitable hole and frame it in. How long... five days... a week... ten days or more... Let us say you would spend three weeks on it. Wouldn't it be worth it?
The "past storm" I wanted to talk about is Katrina. I write this next part only to the able bodied and non-working people in New Orleans who were living on welfare. For this group of people only, there was no excuse for you to have to be "rescued." You had days and days of warnings, you had an able body, you had no job to worry about leaving, your government check would follow you wherever you went... still, you sat there until others were forced to come to your rescue. You, were without excuse! If necessary even on foot, in ten days and with very little effort for any able bodied person you could have easily been 160 north of the storm when it hit, and that only by walking at a very slow pace of two miles per hour and only eight hours a day.
I told my wife (after watching all of the apparently young and able bodied men being rescued in New Orleans) that if I knew a catastrophe were coming to the area where I lived, and I chose to stay anyway, I would never expect or ask any person to risk their own lives by having to come to my rescue. And, those people who chose to stay and ride out Katrina should not have expected someone to come to their aid either. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/13/2008 7:30 p.m.

(FIFTY-TWO) There are myriad reasons why I would never be interested in running for any type of public office. But, for me, the number one reason is that I can say what I believe to be true and not care what anyone else thinks. The above statement is certainly not true for today's candidates and apparently not even true for preacher's who endorse them. Case in point, today's story about John Hagee and his past endorsement of John McCain. Now it seems that Hagee is backpedaling from earlier remarks he made about the Roman Catholic church. Why? Keep in mind that this man was not McCain's pastor and McCain did not sit under his teachings for the last twenty years! Yet, Hagee still feels the need to soft-pedal earlier comments he made about the catholic church. In addition, what has changed within the catholic church that would cause Hagee to change his remarks toward them? Let's see.
Are catholic priests still baptizing babies by sprinkling water on their heads? The answer: yes, even though no babies were ever recorded as being baptized in the Bible and not a single person in the Bible was ever baptized by water being sprinkled on them.
Are catholics still bowing down before man-made idols and graven images in direct defiance of God's holy command? The answer: yes, and they also are still praying to saints and even Mary, who, I might add, did not remain a virgin after the birth of Christ. They are clearly wrong on Mary remaining a perpetual virgin as the Bible records other children being born to Joseph and Mary.
Are they still asking people to "confess their sins" to other men in order to seek forgiveness? The answer: yes, and I would love for anyone to show me such a teaching in the Bible. We are to confess our sins to God, as He alone can forgive!
Are catholics still teaching that during mass they are literally and physically "eating the flesh and drinking the blood" of the Lord Jesus the Christ? The answer: yes, even though such a false teaching would mean that the sacrifice Christ made on the cross would not be sufficient; because He would still have to be sacrificing Himself millions of times daily. Yet, the Bible teaches that after He offered Himself up one time... He sat down at the right hand of God. No more sacrifices, that job was complete!
Are catholics still falsely teaching that Peter (little stone) is the Rock the church is built on? The answer: yes, even though Christ was speaking of Himself as the Rock the church would be built on; not "Cephas" little stone.
Are catholics still teaching their church leaders that they should be celibate, even though Peter was a married man. Think about it. Either Peter was a married man or he had the worst luck of any person who ever lived. I mean, we know he had a mother-in-law because Jesus healed her of a fever. So, if the catholic church wants to pretend Peter wasn't married, then they have to say that he had a mother-in-law without benefit of a wife... poor guy!
Without any exaggeration whatsoever, I could list at least 70 more practices the catholic church does that is either extra-Biblical or clearly anti-Biblical. Thank God, I am not currying anyone's favor and I can speak truth without backpedaling. I find this extremely refreshing and I think politicians (in general) ought to give it a try. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/14/2008 6:55 p.m.

(FIFTY-THREE) If you are like me and you follow major and minor news stories you will see that a lot of what continually happens in the world, to put it mildly, is not good. Just a quick sampling of today's news would reveal the following: Florida wildfires, deadly tornadoes in south, perhaps 127,000 dead from cyclone, thousands dead from china quake, (in one school 200 young children died as they were napping as the quake happened) Iraq and Afghanistan fighting on the increase, Israeli and Palestinian deaths are mounting, unrelenting famine in Africa... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I only mentioned seven items, honestly, I could easily add 50 more news stories with tragic consequences. The story that follows is why I wanted to begin today's blog in this manner.
A recent auction of contemporary artists fetched an amazing 350,000,000 million dollars in sales. American's accounted for above 70% of all of the art that was purchased. Now, tell me again, what were certain people saying about a "weak dollar?"
The fact that money still flows like water is not the point of this blog. I wanted to ask if much of the world is playing the part of Nero as he sang and played the lyre as Rome burned. While Americans, and many others in the world suffer and die, either from acts of God or man-made causes of death and agony, does anyone even care? Whenever the Lord causes or allows calamity, there is always a reason; though we might not understand it at the time. However, in the past whenever large scale death was happening, many people played the part of the penitent and they stopped some of the more pleasurable things they had enjoyed in the recent past and they spent time in prayer and fasting; not anymore. While the world, metaphorically, burns, today's people continue going to Lowe's, Home Depot, Disneyland, Wal-Mart, Blockbuster, King's Island, McDonald's... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
I fully understand that regardless of what tragedies are happening elsewhere, that people still have a daily life they must attend; else, everyone would just lay down and die with the rest. But the constant frivolity that most people seem to want to engage in during catastrophes is more than disappointing, it is incredibly sinful. At the very least, everyone who names the name of Christ ought to spend some time thinking about and praying for people who you have either read or heard about and who are experiencing terrible tragedies in their lives. Example: imagine you are one of the 400 parents who was just given the news that during an earthquake the roof collapsed at school and crushed your (peacefully sleeping) child to death.
It seems that today's philosophy is to only play while many in the world are dying. The art auction I was writing about is where some complete fool actually paid over 30 million dollars for a single piece of ridiculous art. Not only was it poorly done, it was grotesque. Do not view it on a full stomach unless you want to purge: the title; "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping," by Lucian Freud. I have a suggestion: burn the stupid painting and instead send the money to relief efforts that might do some good. Which one? ... take your pick. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/15/2008 12:03 a.m.

(FIFTY-FOUR) Before beginning today's blog I would like to wish one of our seven, and the youngest of our grandchildren a happy first birthday. "Happy birthday Hazel."
Sometimes when I read the news I have to sit back and absorb what I just read. The stupidity of certain government officials and some in law enforcement never cease to amaze me. The latest pair of buffoons are apparently a prosecutor and a judge in Butler County, Ohio. Cincinnati is only about an hour and 45 minutes from my house, if you drive the legal speed limit. Although, I did successfully cover that distance one time in just a little over one hour. However, that is not the reason for this blog.
A man named Brian Gegner, of Fairfield was sentenced to 180 days in jail because his adult aged daughter (Brittany) failed to get her GED within a prescribed time period the court had previously set. There is a hearing scheduled for Mr. Gegner tomorrow, Friday the 16th and I am confident people with real legal acumen will have already counseled both the idiotic judge and crazy prosecutor and this betise sentence will be set aside. But, that still leaves an issue open for discussion, which is only this; how do the residents of Butler County feel living in an area where people who are as incredibly foolish as this pair are, hold legal power within their community.
Although it is inherent in my nature that I always want things to work out right, whatever right actually is and I do believe in law and order; (even if I do not believe that it applies to me personally--LOL). I would always counsel every single innocent person who is accused of any crime, misdemeanor or felony, to never utter a single word to any person in authority without first having hired a lawyer and having them present with you!
The above statement is because of irresponsible and inane prosecutions and sentences like the one I just wrote about involving a particular prosecutor and judge in Butler County Ohio. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/16/2008 12:00 a.m.

(FIFTY-FIVE) This blog will just be a small insight into a particular celebrity and his gambling woes: and by extension, many other people in America as well. First, though, I want to ask a rhetorical question. If a person stands five-foot eight inches tall and they weighed themselves on a scale that rolls over at 300 pounds and the scale did make more than a complete revolution... wouldn't that person be fat? Just asking. Now to the story about the celebrity who is in the news.
Many years ago I worked security on a riverboat in southern Indiana. It was not uncommon to get celebrity "high rollers" who came and would place single bets in the many thousands of dollars for each roll of the dice or pass of a card. One evening dispatch radioed me to go to the cage and cash a personal check for Charles Barkley. In just a few minutes time I made two trips to the cage and returned with chips for Barkley who dropped a little more than one hundred thousand dollars.
At that time he was in town for a golf tournament, which was sponsored by Fuzzy Zoeller. Fifteen minutes and 100,000 (+) dollar loss later... another officer and myself escorted Barkley to one of the suites at Caesar's Hotel. He did not seem too concerned that in just a few hands of cards he had lost more money than my present house and property had cost me. All of the way to his room, as we shadowed him, he kept taking imaginary basketball shots at an invisible rim.
I write about him because he is again in the news, and again it is because he owes a lot of money to another gambling establishment and they are ready to press charges for their money that he owes and has not paid.
This is evidently a reoccurring theme for him as I was told by a pit-boss that on the night I had taken chips to the table from his personal check being cashed, that before Caesar's would cash his (present) check he had to settle a large balance he owed from the previous year that he was in town for Zoeller's tournament.
I also saw many other people in the process of ruining their lives because of gambling addiction during the time I worked at Caesar's. I even still remember the number we were supposed to give to people who obviously were getting in very deep: 1-800-9-with-it. Although, I never knew even one person who was ever given that number.
I will give you just one illustration of how bad it is for some people who become addicted to gambling. I had only been there a short time when I had to go and escort two people from housekeeping to a large room on the boat itself. What do you suppose this large and locked room contained? It was chocked full of the same thing the housekeepers were carrying: large, expensive, and urine-soaked chairs that gamblers use as they sit in front of the one-arm bandits. It seems that many people refuse to leave their seat when they have to go to the toilet... these are adults who will sit in their chair and soak their clothes and chair with their own urine, because they refuse to get up in order to make their toilet!
I asked our lead shift officer how many chairs someone would have to ruin before they were escorted off of the boat. He didn't know the answer to that because he never knew anyone who had been asked to leave because they peed all over themselves. Caesar's would rather see them ruin an expensive chair and sit in their own pee, rather than escort them off of the boat.
Also keep in mind that these were very expensive chairs and there was not any effort made to clean them. Every chair was wrapped with yellow (biohazard) tape and then they were all thrown away. This practice happens at casino's worldwide. As an aside... any addiction can be a terrible thing. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/17/2008 12:03 a.m.

(FIFTY-SIX) Recently, at auction, a collector purchased a hand-written letter by Albert Einstein. In my opinion he paid exactly 404,000 thousand dollars more than the letter was worth. In Einstein's typical scrawl he wrote what he had often said, he was not a believer in a "personal God." His belief was that at some point far in the past, some power, i.e., "First cause" set everything in motion and then simply forgot about it. What a stupid man Einstein actually was.
I can tell you, though, with 100% certainty when Albert changed his belief and began believing in a very up-close and personal God: April 18, 1955. However, by then it was forever too late to be of any benefit to him.
At that point in time Einstein's story became the story of the rich man in Luke chapter 16 who died, and in Hell he lifted his eyes and cried to God for mercy. God, though, only extends mercy to the faithful and only during their lifetime. At death, all that awaits unbelievers is pain and suffering... and this... at the hands of an angry God!
Men often have it wrong. It seems that the majority of people fear what should hold no fear for them, and they show no fear toward the only Being in all the universe who ought to cause the most fear; God. The Lord, Jesus the Christ, stated it best. Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Think about it, for more than 50 years Einstein has been in Hell crying and begging for forgiveness, and it will never come. All that awaits that son of the devil is a sentencing before God, as the books will be opened and his name will not be found in the Lamb's Book of Life. At that time he will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
The most tragic aspect about this story is that all of this could have been avoided. Einstein could have humbled himself before God during his life and he would have been saved. Instead, he allowed the sin of hubris to so infect him that he would not even consider humbling himself before a Being far superior to any man.
Einstein's religion was the religion of many in the world today. Those who refuse to believe any Being is greater than themselves are following the religion of Humanism. This religion affects many in academia. These people, not unlike Einstein, believe they are the greatest thing in the known universe. What complete and utter fools they are. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/18/2008 10:10 a.m.

(FIFTY-SEVEN) Just a brief blog this morning to expose a faux-faith. First, however, if my mom were still alive, today she would be 81: hard to imagine.
Peter Phillips and a Canadian named Autumn Kelly recently married. Normally a story like this would rate on my interest scale in negative numbers. The Brits and their royals and the supposed love affair America has had with the Kennedy's is just a lot of rubbish as far as I'm concerned. But, it was something this girl did that reminded me a lot of Judas Iscariot.
I have a question for you. "How much would it take for you to sell your belief in God?" With Judas it was 30 pieces of silver. For Autumn Kelly (apparently) her price for selling out was to marry a person in the royal lineage.
Let me say that the "faith" she came from and the "church" she joined are both far off from what the Bible teaches in respect to God. Neither the one she left, nor the one she is going to present a clear teaching on salvation. It is like water baptism without first having been born-again by faith in the Lord Jesus the Christ. A person would go in the water a dry sinner on their way to Hell and they would come out of the water a wet sinner still on their way to Hell. This girl is leaving a "dead church" and entering another "dead church." But that's not the point.
She renounced her supposed faith in order to gain some worldly goal! So, I ask every reader of this blog the question I began with. "How much would it take for you to sell your belief in God?" I hope your answer would be the same as mine. If all the riches from the beginning of creation until the present time were gathered into one area and they could all be given to you for your enjoyment, if you would only do one thing... renounce your faith in Christ, if you were like me it would not even cause a nanoseconds time to consider the offer. The answer would be an instantaneous and emphatic, "No!" (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/19/2008 12:07 a.m.

(FIFTY-EIGHT) Some personal musings will follow. I am on a seven day vacation period that I had planned for a couple of months; albeit, several things I had planned to accomplish during this period will not get done. That falls into the circumstances beyond my control category. In other words it is the Burns axiom at work, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men/ Gang aft agley'. Translation: The best-laid plans of mice and men/ Go oft awry'.
Since I can not do my first choice in the plans I had made, I decided to go in a different direction altogether: a much needed, and long overdue cleaning of my basement. And this is not just sweeping and cleaning, no, this is a complete and thorough search through the many dozens and dozens and dozens of boxes, bags, chests, and etcetera of everything that is presently in our basement. My goal when I am done is to have no more left in my basement than what can be stacked on one 4' x 8' sheet of plywood. I will accomplish this by selling, giving, or throwing away, every single item in my basement.
I told my wife that if we didn't know we even had it for the last 12 years, length of time in this house, we probably don't need it. However, we have been finding a lot of interesting things. Much of what we have found so far belonged to our daughters when they were young. To be fair, most everything that fell into that category actually belonged to our youngest married daughter. I told her that now it is time to junk up her own house.
As of this writing I am more than halfway done and I expect to be completely done within two more days. Today I was considerably slowed down because of a medium sized box I found that I did not believe I had even kept. About three years ago and during the time I was writing Mei Sermo my wife came across a box that had several dozen of my old sermon tapes, personal letters from students, and some other memorabilia. That box also, I was fairly certain had been left in an attic back in West Virginia: apparently not.
Looking back though I am glad that both boxes were found. I was able to use a message from that earlier finding in my book, Mei Sermo. And for this blog I am going to use parts of three different letters I found in the basement today. Now I kind of wish I had brought everything with me from that move, it might be fun to explore and see what else I might find.
The first thing I want to talk about is a portion of a letter I wrote 22 years ago, which was never meant to be opened; I opened it today anyway. The envelope was affixed with my return address and I had only written three words on the face of the letter: Covenant with God.
It was not supposed to be read because I had written it to Him and He didn't need it unsealed to know what I had written. I did though, because unlike Him, I have a very fallible memory. It's sad, not my memory failing but the many failed promises I had made. On a scale of one to ten, with one being a miserable failure and ten being on par with Jack Hyles... I scored... maybe a .075. It's pitiful... really pitiful.
I will not tell what my ten promises were, however, I will mention the only true positive thing about my covenant letter. Because I live in the present and cannot see the future I had asked Him to physically take my life before I would ever do anything that would bring great reproach to His holy name. As of this writing I am still alive, so that means that I must not have...................
Just kidding, I'm still here. Although, it really isn't funny that I have not more fully fulfilled my promises to Him.
The other two items I want to write about will contain a portion of a letter I wrote to Dr. Hyles and one small portion of his answer to me. As important and as busy a man as he was, pastoring the largest Sunday school class in the world, and one of the largest churches in the world, he always took the time to personally communicate with me whenever I asked his advice: which was often. Although there were several of his letters in this box, I now wish I had kept all of my old letters; they would be fun to read through again.
Dr. Hyles was going through a particularly difficult time in his ministry, so I sent a cassette tape of a message I had preached on the radio a few days before and I also wrote in a letter some words of encouragement. Although my letter to him and his answer to me was between us, I do not feel like I am breaking any trust to share a small excerpt from each letter.
The last paragraph in my letter to him (dated June 25, 1989) stated, "Just a final thought; when the Lord walked the Earth as man, for the most part the lost either came to Him for salvation (and loved Him) or the lost ignored Him. Almost all of His persecution came from unregenerate religionists. It appears as if your trials are coming from the very same quarters. Please remember: while it might be true you have some who would be your enemy, you have many more who would be your friend."
His answer to that letter was dated July 5, 1989, and in it he said many kind things. I just want to include a portion of the fourth paragraph in that particular letter. Dr. Hyles was a remarkable man in many ways, not the least of which was knowing him to be an ardent "prayer warrior." So, to be included on one of his many prayer lists was a great feeling. In his letter he made two promises, ..."I promise you I will pray for you every day in a special way. I also promise you there will not be a day until I die that I will not thank God that on my journey to Heaven I had a friend like you."
Dr. Hyles's faith ended in sight on February 6, 2001. I miss hearing his great preaching: his exegesis on any Bible verse was always the clearest of any preacher I ever heard. I miss attending Pastor's schools where some of the greatest preaching was yearly given. However, as far as my own life is concerned, I miss his prayers the most. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/20/2008 12:02 a.m.

(FIFTY-NINE) The overblown, pompous, arrogant, Obama is at it again. Now I can add "toady" to the list of names his actions qualify him for. Did you notice that recently the lowlife who turned his back on the flag and would not recite the pledge of allegiance, has suddenly started wearing the American flag lapel-pin. Do you want to know what caused this about-face? It is the reason that I added toady to the list of names that one could accurately use in describing him. Obama has to now try and curry favor with voters who actually do love their country and who are proud of America and proud to be called Americans! Surely everyone can see through his latest ruse.
Think about it. When he was running for the nomination for his own party, he figured there was enough votes from the ultra-liberal left, who despise America and in recent years has shanghaied the party of the Democrats: and apparently that strategy worked and he is ready to announce that he is the winner for his party. Now, in the general election he has to make a sharp turn back to the right and hope to fool enough voters to put him over the top.
But, the lapel-pin is only one part of today's blog, the other is his open-ended threat to Republicans? First of all, make no mistake about it: if candidates are going to send family members on the stump to speak for them, then they ought to have to answer for every speech they make. In fact, and I just thought of this, Michelle could do a real "stump speech" for Obama and she would not need any blackface makeup. (LOL) Now that I think about it, I believe I will write a short speech she could use at her next campaign stop.
Michelle in her next: (stump speech for Barak). "Now brudders un sidders, un lil' chidden, I doan' knows yit whut Ima gwunta do? We all knows fo' sho dat dis is un evil nashun, un we hain't gwana be prowd. Times I spec I be 'kay, un 'tother times I spec de bes way is jes lay down un git on wit my kwittun. Now yo' knows fo' sho dat Barak hain't never dun no hurm, un he 'uz alwuz yo' fren'. I ax 'gin. Pleez, cas' yo vote fo him. Now, lutz uz stan' togeddur un sing, 'Massa Is a Stingy Man."' (Note to Mrs. Obama: You have my permission to use the speech verbatim... and you're welcome).
Now I don't know about you, but I kind of like it: short, sweet, and it might actually work. Then, if it didn't work and Obama lost in his bid for the Democrat nomination, Michelle could always raise her eyes to Heaven and ask, "Why uz deah Lawdy?"
Did you hear his threat to those who would "dare to bring his wife into this." Please... Barak is the one who "brought her into this", else, Michelle wears the pants in his house and he could not stop her: either way, she is part of his campaign and answerable for her own remarks. Obama said, ..."they (meaning Republicans) should be careful because that I find unacceptable." Well, Barak, I'm sure that all Republicans have duly noted that they are to "be careful." And it is because your unpatriotic wife, who is on the stump for you, is finally being challenged because of her leftist speech. I for one say that it is about time. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

5/21/2008 12:01 a.m.

(SIXTY) This blog will fill another 30 days and tomorrow I will send this section to the archives and I will begin a new set of 30 days of writing. Today I just have a couple of unrelated thoughts about current happenings.
First, a few words on Teddy Kennedy. When most people are diagnosed with an illness that appears to be life-threatening, I suppose it behooves the rest of humanity, to, at the very least, offer up a prayer for the person and their immediate family. In that regard, and for my own part, I fulfilled my obligation by doing the least in the above scenario.
I could not get too worked up over his illness for two reasons. First: the majority of his years in the senate he fought to keep it legal in our country to continue murdering unborn babies by the millions. Secondly: as of this date, his family has had him around nearly 40 years longer than the family of Mary Jo Kopechne had her around. If Kennedy, as a younger man, had not already been a drunkard, and operating his car illegally, the young girl would not have drowned.
At his death, if I shed any tears it would be in remembrance of all of the little innocent babies who have died, and the death of Miss Kopechne by drowning.
I also want to mention that over the course of the last few days I have been going on You Tube to watch several different videos. I did this because of a spoof video that I had put on that site. I had never gone to You Tube before to spend time watching the videos. Although I had seen a handful in the past. This time though, I have probably wasted three hours in the past two days watching some of what is posted. Already, the novelty is beginning to wear off for me, but I have found some interesting sites and I have just one pertinent observation to make.
A great many people worldwide must be into voyeurism. There is no other credible way to explain the phenomena of You Tube. I mean, a lot of what I watched had no dialogue, it was just images. I would check the number of hits to these sites and some of them numbered in the millions! I will give you just one example. There is a young girl who is evidently wildly popular, Magibon.
I stumbled onto her just by clicking on videos that were currently being watched. She never even talked... just looked at the screen for about 20 seconds and made cute faces. She is though a very pretty little girl, and I called my wife in to show her the video and the number of times people have viewed it. The number was in the millions!
I asked my oldest daughter, who sometimes watches clips on You Tube if she had ever heard of Magibon and (or) the millions who had viewed her video. She said no, but she told me about a video clip with a hamster that had millions of hits also. So, either a lot of people in the world are into voyeurism, or they just have a lot of time to waste.
I can't imagine taking the time to put something on You Tube without having a definite reason as to why you are doing it. For my clip I had posted I was trying to call attention to a book I had written and the fact that it's for sale. But, at least the clips I saw I could not see any reason they were posted.
Some were funny or entertaining, but I did not see what the person who posted it was getting out of their efforts. I suppose though, if you have some time to waste and you go to You Tube, there are some clips I saw that were entertaining. (Robin L. Johnson)
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.