WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?
08/11/2010 1:50 pm
What is Christianity?
In the past there have only been a few times that articles I read actually made me laugh-out-loud... at least stories which were written as news articles and not a parody or something written tongue-in-cheek. (Until yesterday, I think the last time I laughed-out-loud while reading an article had to do with Ted Kennedy. That particular news story stated that Kennedy was sitting on a board of an “ethics committee.” The name Kennedy (any Kennedy) and words like ethics or morals used in the same sentence is as incongruous as would be putting president Obama in charge of a neonatal class of infants and expecting any of the children to survive.)
The latest article which caused me great hilarity was a story on an Anne Rice decision and her publicly saying that she was “renouncing Christianity.” My first thought, and what initially caused me to laugh-out-loud, was the fact that you can not renounce what you have never embraced. (As a writer I would have assumed that she would have known that.) I then found, as I read further, other things in the story that were also quite comical. And the balance of what I read is what I am writing about on my blog today. (Also, if any of you note that this story is several days old... that is because I do not pay to read the rag newspaper: Courier Journal. I only read it as I find an old one in the break-room at work. Because of that, this story was already two days old when I first saw it.)
I used the title What is Christianity because apparently there are a lot of people out there who arrogantly believe that Christianity can be twisted into whatever belief system they care to adopt. True Christianity is today, as it was from the beginning a very black-and-white type of faith; with little to no ambiguity found anywhere within the pages of the Holy Bible.
In her rant she listed several reasons why she was quitting on Christianity. Among those reasons are: she refuses to be anti-gay. Of course, both Testaments – Old and New strongly teach against this aberrant lifestyle choice and this particular practice is an abomination before God. Read Romans 1:24-32 and you will see that because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge that He (God) gave them over to a reprobate mind, that is found in verse 28. “Reprobate” when used as an adjective means; ...Rejected by God and without hope of salvation.
So, to Anne and all reprobates like her, it is not your choice what practices you choose to like or dislike... Christianity is not a buffet meal where you are free to partake of only what suits your palate or temperament. This “meal,” (which includes all beliefs and practices found within the Bible) has already been set by the King and all of it is to be received AND accepted.
Anne also wrote that she will not be anti-feminist. I'm not even sure what she means by that. The Bible is not against women either. However, women... just like men all have certain roles in life. And one role is not to be mixed with another. For example: that is why there are many churches (under the umbrella of Christianity) that are sinning against God by promoting women clergy: which is something the Bible emphatically forbids!
She further wrote that she refuses to be anti-Democrat. Again, another statement without much explanation. However, I as a Christian, am not against democrats per se; however, I AM AGAINST the Democratic party and will continue to be that way as long as their party platform is to butcher helpless babies in the womb. My contention today is as it has always been. No Christian should ever vote for another person who is going to promote and help those who murder innocent babies. It's just this simple: if you personally, just like God, are against killing helpless babies... then why would you ever help a person who will kill the un-birthed... gain an office? Especially when you know beforehand that they will use their position to further these barbaric acts which are perpetrated against our own children.
Now, for me, the most telling of all of her statements (which attests to her lost condition) is most probably the next one, and the last I will comment on. She refuses, in her own words, to be anti-secular humanist! What an absolute fool she is!!!
I wonder if she even knows what the term “secular humanist” means? If she does, how can any logical person believe that the two could have ever been compatible: for they are polar opposites... Christianity and secular humanism!
Anne Rice, of course, is a lost person. She was before she wrote this recent Facebook article and she continues to be so to this present time. It is not that she is giving up anything that she already possessed. She, and any others who might be like her, are only proving that the Bible is always true as they are fulfilling I John 2:19: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
Remember: “Christianity,” first and foremost is trusting Jesus for your eternal salvation... beyond that it is about following what Christ taught all throughout the Bible. You can not pretend to be His follower while denying everything that He taught. Plain and simple... it is not about what you think is right or wrong... it is about Him and the absolutes He taught as to what is right or wrong! Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com
Missionaries?
08/09/10 12:27 pm
A TERRIBLE WASTE OF “MISSIONARIES” (?)
Before I get to the main point of this blog, let me say this first about true missionaries: I admire this group more than any other in the Lord's work. And by “missionary” I only mean those... who by their testimony, which is their life and their own words are actively spreading the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. However, I neither admire nor respect those who are only humanitarians. I read the other day where some 40 different billionaires are going to give half their wealth away to different charities. “ho hum” who cares? I mean, I can guarantee that none of those charitable gifts by these particular lost men will be going to groups whose sole purpose is to spread the good news of Christianity.
If any Christian wants to help a lost person by giving them food, drink, clothes, shelter, etc. etc. etc., then go ahead and do it: but if at the same time you are not witnessing to that person or explaining that you are only helping because of Christ, then YOU ARE NOT DOING THE LORD'S WORK! All you are doing is making yourself “feel good” and that is all the reward you will ever get.
There was in Louisville what I thought was a good work for the Lord in that they fed, clothed, and gave shelter to many poor and homeless people throughout the city. The only “catch” was that these people they were taking off the street had to hear a Gospel message in order to be provided a place to stay and food to eat. During the time they did this, I supported their work and I felt that they were fulfilling exactly what the Bible taught about helping. Then, one day, I read in the paper that they were no longer going to require that people coming into their mission had to hear a message on salvation. What a coincidence, it just so happened at the very same time they stopped this preaching requirement... I just happened to quit supporting them. Sort of weird how that happened... isn't it?
You see, on that date this down-town mission quit doing the Lord's work and they became humanitarians... and those people are a dime-a-dozen. You can go to any art auction or black tie dinner in Louisville, which is usually attended by the more wealthy and more corrupt people in the area, and in that crowd you will see dozens of these crass sinners who are also “great humanitarians.” What an absolute joke!
I hope, at least those who are saved and are reading this blog are aware that when you help someone... it is not to be done from the goodness of your heart. There is an altogether different reason for doing it and it has absolutely nothing to do with you!
For this next part I am only talking to the saved: I want you to think of someone you know personally, and not just a person you have read about. The reason for this is that I want you to be able to ask them a particular question after reading this blog. When I describe what I am looking for I want to know who the first person is that pops into your head and fits what I am asking for: ready? Here it is; Who is the very best Christian you know?
Now, just to be certain that you actually know what it means to be Christ-like, i.e., Christian... the person who just popped into your head: are they the best soul-winner in your church? If not, then you did not pick the best Christian you know! For, the best Christian in any group of believers will also be the same person who is the most ardent and busy about winning people to the Lord. Now that you know who it is to ask the question... here is what I want you to ask. “(Insert name here), among all of the people that you have led to the Lord, how many of those lost people came up to you and asked how to be saved... based on how great a Christian you are?” (Keep in mind that he or she is a “great Christian” … at least the best that you know.) Though I do not know who this particular soul-winner is... I promise I can describe their reaction. It will be what follows in the next paragraph.
Their eyes will open wide and their mouth will fall open... as they begin wild bouts of laughter... which soon weakens their knees and they fall to the floor howling and screaming with hilarity: soon they're reduced to saying... “Stop, stop, my sides hurt... please, don't ever say anything that funny to me again... I don't think I could take it.”
The reason I wrote that to you is that I want to put to bed, then kill, and finally bury the insane idea of life-style evangelism. It is not found in the Bible and no one in the history of the church has ever been saved that way. The only thing the Bible teaches and knows anything about is confrontational evangelism!
This falsehood, lifestyle evangelism, was started and is carried out today by disobedient and lazy pastors who are too cowardly to stand in front of a stranger and tell them they are going to hell without Christ!
The reason I wanted to explain that is what I began writing about today on my blog: that is the killing of what AOL described as ten “Christian missionaries” in Afghanistan. Now, to be sure, not all ten were missionaries... or even Christian. For example, Dr. Karen Woo was a lost humanist. So, her death was a simple and cowardly act of murder carried out by some lost heathen Muslims. However, there were others who were murdered (among the ten) that their death would at least fall under martyrdom. They were killed by some in the Taliban because they recognized them to be Christian.
The problem is this... these people died in vain because the organization they worked for... International Assistance Mission (AIM) stated that none of their workers, though Christian they might be, were even allowed to carry a Bible, nor were they allowed to witness their Christian faith! I have a question... WHY THEN ARE THEY THERE?
Look, there is enough lost humanitarians in the world already. No Christian should ever represent a work where they can not witness their faith to those they come in contact with. Jesus said it best... “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matthew 8:22b)
In other words, let those who are spiritually dead bury those who are physically dead. Why? Because the Christian has something more important to do: that is... spread the Gospel of Christ! Another way to say it would be... “Let those who are lost (humanitarians) feed, clothe, and give shelter to all lost people.” The Christian has something better to do: that is... spread the Gospel of Christ!
I'm sure by now there are some reading this who falsely believe that we are supposed to help the downtrodden and poor among us, in fact... isn't there verses that teach that? The short answer is an emphatic, “No!”
The problems arise when people do not read their Bibles often enough and they only remember bits and pieces of what they have read. Let's look at just a few passages so I can show this truth.. Then, you ought to begin studying on your own to see that the idea of being “your brothers keeper”... is exactly that... YOUR BROTHER!
Read the Olivet discourse found in the book of Matthew. For this blog I want to call your attention to Matthew 25:34-46. In these verse you will see what drives many humanists and humanitarians to action in the sole pursuit of only trying to help those less fortunate, and by “help” I mean in a physical way only. Sad to say, but there are many well-meaning saved people caught up in this as well.
The Lord gives a long list of people needing help: hungry, thirsty, naked, in prison... etc. etc. etc. He then tells the righteous among them that they had helped Him (Jesus) when He was found in this way. Then, some queried and wanted to know when the Lord (Jesus) was found this way? (hungry, in prison, etc.) The, the Lord answered in Matthew 25:40: “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” … Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least OF THESE MY BRETHREN! (MY BRETHREN!!!)
Look, it is always right and acceptable to help anyone, saved or lost who needs help... as long as you witness to the lost as you are giving them aid... otherwise you are only a humanitarian (at best) or a humanist (at worst): and the world needs no more of either.
Look at Mark 9:41 to see this same truth. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” Notice, the given cup of water to slack a person's thirst is “given in the Lord's name.” And the reason it was given... “because ye belong to Christ.”
If all you ever do is to help someone physically without telling them the reason for it: i.e., you belong to Christ and you are helping them because of Him... then you are only a self-serving individual who wants the praise and glory of men. Trust me... you are not furthering the Gospel of God and you are doing both yourself and God a great disservice as you are missing wonderful opportunities to witness to the lost and dying world!
Remember, lifestyle evangelism is false... these people whom you have helped will never come up to you and ask how to be saved simply because you have shown them a kindness. However, as you are showing them this kindness, witness and tell them of the love of God which constrains you and that is the ONLY REASON you are helping them. Otherwise, they will just think that you are a “nice” person... and who needs that?
That is why I began this blog writing about what a terrible waste of “missionaries.” Believe me though, no one is a missionary who does not carry a Bible and actively, not passively, witness to the lost they come into contact with.
In the first part of this blog I stated that helping people has nothing to do with you, and for the Christian that is true. When you help people it must always be about Him... in that way, He... not you (or I) gets the credit for whatever good is done.
Remember, you are not responsible to see anyone get saved... however, you are responsible to witness to them and give them that opportunity. Then, the Holy Spirit takes over and if a person has faith they now have the same chance that at one time was afforded to you... get saved or not, it is your choice! Also, keep in mind that the idea of letting your light shine before men does in no way mean that you are not to witness with your mouth. It only means that as you have a good testimony before God and man, then the lost are more likely to believe your words when you tell them about the saving power of Jesus!
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com
DREAMS ... with pictures
08/03/10
10:27 pm
PICTURES ARE NOW UP... MANY THANKS, TAMMY!!!
DREAMS
I suppose we all ought to have them: that is goals or dreams, the problem (at least for me) is that they keep changing. Though I don't often use or quote people who are are lost, unless I'm painting them in a bad light, for this blog I'll make an exception... because the quote is that good. “Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” --- James Dean (Though I do believe the quote is good, I want to use those words in a way that might not seem so obvious at first blush. I will do this farther on in today's blog.)
I was twenty years old when I walked into a dealership in down-town Charleston, West Virginia and spoke to the owner and told him that the baby-blue Rolls Royce (which was prominently displayed in his showroom) would be mine before I turned 30, at least one just like it: and I further told him that when I purchased it... I would pay cash: then I walked out. I'm sure he and the other salesman had a good laugh over that one. None-the-less, I figured I could do it and in less time than I had told him.
So, I set out trying to make that happen. I went to a seminar on self-made millionaires and I learned the most common way to get rich was through real estate. Because that option required capital on hand I wanted to know how the other two-percent made it: writing or inventing rounded out the rest of that short list. I set my hand to accomplish this and began working toward that goal.
A funny thing happened en-route to my trying to obtain material wealth... I got saved. Now, it might be true for some that what was important to them before salvation remains important to them afterward, but for me that wasn't the case.
When I tell you what I was making around the time I got saved it will not sound like a lot based on today's economy, but in the early '80's (nearly 30 years ago) it was a decent living. (I had started out working as a machinist in Nitro, West Virginia.) In just a few years after I was saved I left that job to go into the ministry... at that time while working at McJunkin I was making $412.00 a week. ($10.30 an hour) Of course, in between my 40+ hours per week at McJunkin I was always working part time jobs at the same time as my full-time work. Example: after my shift at McJunkin I would drive to Vocational Rehabilitation in Institute and work late into the night. In addition to that, during the summers and on weekends I also worked at Rock Lake Pool in South Charleston as a lifeguard. Typically I averaged about 70 hours a week earning money while working for others and on the side I was still doing my work at home and trying my hand at that inventin' and writin' stuff. (At that time I was all-about trying to make money.)
As an aside and this has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with what I am writing about, but... you ought to try and find some old pictures of Rock Lake Pool, it was magnificent. If I remember correctly it was the largest pool in the United States... at two football fields long? (I can't guarantee that but I think that's what Sam told me one time.)
Sam and Dave... not the soul brothers... owned the place and though they were considered by most who knew them as crotchety old men, they were always nice to me. Sam interviewed me personally. He only had one request before he agreed to hire me. At the time I was young and I used to lift often at the gym, and he believed I might be too muscled to be able to dive from the cliffs and over the board-walk below. (Oh for those long ago days when someone might take a look at me and believe I was too muscled. (lol)
The pool had several different lifeguard stands and there were always five of us on duty at a time and we would change stands every hour. One of the stands was along a rock ledge above the board-walk and behind the slide: Sam wanted to be sure I could clear the board-walk below in case I ever saw anyone in trouble from that end of the pool.
I swam across the pool and began finding hand-holds in the cliff face and I started up. At only about 15 feet off the water I lost my hold and fell backward into the water. “Great,” I thought, “there goes this job.” (I knew that he would be watching from the far side of the pool.) Somewhat broken... but certainly not ready to quit trying, I started up the second time and I continued climbing until I was about 20 feet above the board-walk, which was about 30 feet above the water... I turned, took a deep breath, and leaped out for all I was worth. Like Sam, I wasn't sure that I could do it either?
Sam had told me after I dove into the pool to go and see the head lifeguard. (It has been so many years that I can no longer remember his name for sure... maybe, Ron? But if anyone swam there regularly during that time (I think my last year was '78 or '79) they would probably have known him: he was a nice guy and the head lifeguard when I worked there.) I swam to his lifeguard stand and climbed out.
He said, “You're hired, you dive out really good... for a big guy.” Imagine that. All during the '70's... tops I was only 195 pounds... and I was called a “big guy?” Hard to believe isn't it?
(Sorry about continuing this but when I thought of the pool I had such a rush of memories.) After that first time diving from the cliff-face (as a test only to be sure that in case of an emergency I could do it) Sam had told me that insurance was high and he didn't want any of his lifeguards to do that on a regular basis. Naturally, that made us want to do it... and often.
Every weekend they hired a local station and they would come out and play rock music and do live television broadcasts from the pool. At that time it was nothing to have 1,200 to 1,500 people swimming, playing, and dancing at the same time, it was always a madhouse.
During those weekends Sam would leave for a couple of hours and there were three of us lifeguards (during the break when the pool was cleared) who would climb high up on the rock-face and then we would dive in unison. Of course it helped knowing that the television cameras were on us and it was being broadcast live. Each week we would dare to go higher... I never made it all of the way to the top... more than 70 feet... but we went a long way toward it. Weekly, it almost took my breath away when I first turned after climbing and looked down... then I would steady myself and dive out. But, it was always over in an instant and I never even remembered the dive itself... just the shouts and cheers when we surfaced, it was fun! (Now, I'll tell you something that potentially was not as much fun. During those long breaks all of us lifeguards had to swim under the board-walk and between the pilings for the entire length of the pool. The reason: we were looking for bodies... no kidding. The pool had a very large paddle-wheel that greatly disturbed the water. Tragedies in the past had shown that if anyone had drowned (unseen) the current (which was created by this big wheel) would send the body under the board-walk and it would get trapped there. Fortunately, nothing like this ever happened during the time I worked there. Sadly, a few people had drowned in exactly that manner (and) in times past.)
Though I have swam in countless lakes, streams, rivers, pools, and two different oceans in two different countries … the closest I ever came to drowning was during the time I worked there and while cleaning the bottom of the pool! Early one Saturday morning before the pool opened I was told to wrap a heavy chain around my upper body, slide a leaded pipe over a broom handle, then jump into the deep end of the pool. The idea was that I would breathe through a long rubber hose that was attached to a generator which was setting on the board-walk: then, I was to just walk along the bottom of the pool and sweep everything up which had accumulated there: after doing this the pool's filters would then take care of the floating detritus. I did exactly that... until there was a glitch with the mask and I could no longer get air: add to that the fact that I took them literally... when they said to “wrap” the chain around me: now I couldn't get it off. (Just now the thought of me walking around on the bottom of the pool with a heavy chain securely tied around me while pushing a broom, almost made me laugh-out-loud... but at that time while I was running out of air and struggling to swim to the top with a heavy chain around me... it didn't seem nearly as funny.)
Now, I'll tell you something that if I were the type to embarrass easily, then this would probably do it. However, because I don't... a sardonic smile is all that this next thought is causing me to experience. Every Friday night, as casually as I could mention it and yet still be sure that she understood, I would remind Deb that another (live) television crew would be out at the pool tomorrow... and again I would be diving from high up on the cliff-face.
During all the time I worked there, and the many dives I made which were broadcast, I don't think she ever saw even one? You might ask... “How do I know that for sure?” Because, I would... as nonchalantly as possible, ask her that evening. “Did you and the girls (Tammy and Missy were very young) see any of the programming today?”
“Yeah, I saw some,” she would say.
“Did you get to see when the three of us dove?” Of course, what I was actually asking was... “Did you get to see ME dive?”
Every single time the answer was always the same, “No.”
Now, to be fair, the reasons were usually different: though they were all of the same general theme. The babies needed something, or other... dishes to wash... diapers to change... clothes to iron... (I know, “iron” … keep in mind though this was 30 years ago and clothes actually wrinkled and people even used starch. Can you believe that?)
If I sound bitter... it's only because I am! I mean... repeatedly risking life-and-limb while attempting to show-off and she doesn't even watch... how fair is that? (lol) Now that I'm remembering these things I think that it's a good thing Deb and the girls are out cleaning the church tonight, or I might go and find her and kick her in the leg... or something like that. (Someday I might even write about the time I wrecked one of my motorcycles while trying to show-off in front of another pretty girl I was wanting to date. It seems that many times in my life I have played the fool because of a beautiful girl. I'm not sure who first said what I next quote, but, at least for me, it seems appropriate: “God made woman beautiful and foolish; beautiful, that man might love her; and foolish, that she might love him.”) Now, if I can remember what I was writing about, I'll try and get back to it.
After I was saved I no longer had the desire or drive to have material wealth. Even now, if I were to make a conscience decision and decide that I wanted to make a lot of money... I truly don't believe that I could: regardless the effort I might put into it. The reason is that I believe there is a God in Heaven who hears and answers prayers, and I have prayed Proverbs 30:8 as my own prayer and I have done this many dozens of times in my life. “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:” (GIVE ME NEITHER POVERTY NOR RICHES!)
I have prayed that prayer because of the verse that follows and the many examples I read in the Bible and saw in the world around me of money and materialism becoming a great snare in the lives of people, and this is also true even in the lives of the redeemed.
Proverbs 30:9: “Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” The two verses (together) show the plight of sinful man. If we have too much in the way of material goods there is a great tendency to forget about God and believe we don't need Him. If we have too little, then the tendency is to be dishonest (if necessary) in order to gain what we want. However, if we ask of Him what is only “convenient” for us... that means what is “necessary” and not what is only “wanted,” then we are exactly where He wants us.
Read the two verses together for better understanding. Proverbs 30:8-9: “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”
Now I want to repeat the quote I began with... “Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” Upon first reading that, how do you believe most people would respond? … LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST... or … MAKE THE MOST OF IT, YOU ONLY GO AROUND ONCE... or … HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WIN... or, any of a hundred other inane sayings that are altogether senseless.
Let me ask you a question. Wouldn't it be just as worthy a goal to see how simply you could live? Isn't the “dream” of trying to simplify your life a loftier goal than trying to live your life in the rather beggarly aim of only trying to obtain... more and more! Also, if your dream was to have a simpler, less encumbered life while on this Earth, then wouldn't you be more prepared for the second part of that quote... “live as if you'll die today.” I mean, I Timothy 6:7: states: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
I refuse to believe that I have any less of a dream or a goal in only wanting to live a life free of material things, than does someone whose goal is to amass as much as they can before they die. Preacher used to make fun of people like that. He said they like to, “Get all they can... and can all they get.” (A pretty good saying.)
Admittedly, I'll not get there in this life, I'm not a pessimist, just a realist. The only way I will feel like I have ever arrived at that goal is to be able to live entirely off-the-grid. And this has nothing to do with wanting to live-green, or being a tree-hugger. I'm neither of those things... I'd cut down whatever I needed to build my little house and on save-the-Earth days, maybe I'll top off my tank and leave the cap loose, and I'll run my mower even if the lawn doesn't need cut, and I'll water the kids sandbox just in case something is in there waiting to grow... maybe I'll even waste two or three tanks of gasoline in useless driving and sightseeing, something I don't even like... just as my way of protest against all those green-people!
Every time I mention to Deb about getting rid of everything... literally... and moving out somewhere and living off-grid, her response is always the same: “You can go, but not me.” It sounds easy enough, but that would in no way un-complicate my life, it would only make it harder. I would still have to take care of her and the house she lives in AND my little place in the woods. (So, for now I can only take baby-steps... a little at a time.)
Before moving to this house we had almost all of our belongings in storage for nearly a year. When we were getting a truck to move everything I said why don't we get rid of everything that we have lived without for the last year? And we did, we got rid of many things through gifts, yard sales, and the Salvation Army: I mean a lot of things! Alas, we still have too much. (I guess I didn't realize how much until I asked Tammy to come over last night and take some pictures so I could post them for this blog. The pictures helped me to see that I still have a long way to go.)
However, I've told Deb that if she ever changes her mind and decides to do it: live off-grid, then we'll see what stuff the girls want first, then for everything else we'll just call a couple of churches to come and get whatever they want. Now, in the past when people have come to our door from churches trying to collect things for the poor, they usually have said something like this: “We are out collecting items for the poor, and we will take whatever you have, we'll even take your old and worn clothing. All of your unwanted things will be used for the poor and starving among us.”
(Now, to be fair, I always want to be nice to people like this: however, If at sometime in the future we are able to move and get rid of everything, and another church-lady who is collecting shows up on our front stoop... I feel like I should at least try and make the following point.)
“Look lady, the clothes that I wear, the reason I have them is that they are already old, and they were mostly worn-out by someone else before I ever got them: besides, if they can wear my clothes, trust me... they might be poor,,, but they're not starving!”
I will finish this blog with words from a friend of mine. They are in the process of simplifying their lives. To that lofty goal they have decided on a slogan for their new home. “Live simply so that others may simply live.” And before anyone writes to me expressing concern over the possibility that Mahatma Gandhi might have been the author of that quote, so what? I don't endorse James Dean, but what he said was still a remarkable quote. Remember... “even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and again.” So, Gandhi or Dean... doesn't matter... truth is truth... regardless the author!
Virgil, standing guard in front of our house!
Virgil, relaxing and enjoying a bit of television.
Virgil with bib and ready for lunch.
Virgil, ready for nap after heavy lunch.
Virgil, relaxing in the grand-children's playroom.
Virgil, patiently waiting for me to read to him.
Virgil, in his usual spot as I am typing on the computer.
Virgil, with his main-squeeze, Stella.
You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com
PS I almost posted without any further explanation. Because people already believe me to be crazy about dogs, and Virgil in particular: I couldn't resist... I had to pose him with bib, hats etc. I repeatedly tried to get him to sit at the table, and on a chair for the picture with the bib; however, he kept hopping down before Tammy could snap the picture. In reality, he is a big baby, and things easily frighten him... but I still love him!
